Go Back

Easy Lasagna

An easy lasagna recipe that saves me lots of time. This dish satisfies everyone in the family. Try it tonight!
Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course lunch/dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12 people
Calories 10534.1 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large Skillet For browning beef and simmering sauce.
  • 1 9x13 inch Baking Dish Standard size for lasagna.
  • 1 Large Mixing Bowl For combining the cheese mixture.
  • 1 Aluminum Foil For covering the lasagna during baking.
  • 1 Spatula or Spoon For stirring and serving.

Ingredients
  

Main

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 32 ounce jar spaghetti sauce
  • 32 ounces cottage cheese
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • 9 lasagna noodles
  • ½ cup water

Instructions
 

  • Gather all ingredients and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Stir in spaghetti sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Combine cottage cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, eggs, 1/2 of the grated Parmesan cheese, dried parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Spread 3/4 cup of sauce in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover with 3 uncooked lasagna noodles, 1 3/4 cups of cheese mixture, and 1/4 cup sauce; repeat layers once more. Top with remaining 3 noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Pour 1/2 cup water along the edges of the dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
  • Serve and enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Notes

For a richer flavor profile, consider substituting ricotta cheese for half of the cottage cheese. Browning the ground beef thoroughly before adding sauce is crucial for developing deep savory notes; ensure to drain excess fat. When layering, a light hand prevents a dense final product. The addition of water along the edges helps ensure the uncooked noodles soften properly. Always allow the lasagna to rest for at least 10-15 minutes after baking to allow the layers to set, which prevents it from falling apart when sliced and served.