Name: Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1.5 cups fat-free ricotta cheese; 6 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups); 0.25 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided; 1.5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano; 5 garlic cloves, minced and divided; 1 large egg, lightly beaten; 12 ounces extra-lean ground beef (93% lean); 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 0.25 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 1 (25-ounce) jar lower-sodium marinara sauce (such as Dell'Amore); Cooking spray; 6 lasagna noodles, cooked; 1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)

Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce

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This simple lasagna is perfect for when you're short on time, but craving a comforting meal. Ready in just over an hour, it requires only 50 minutes of cooking in the oven. Extra-lean ground beef (which sometimes cooks up dry) works well here because it's combined with marinara to keep it moist. For a quick and easy variation, feel free to use 9 whole lasagna noodles instead of 6 broken noodles, using 3 noodles per layer. You also can sub fresh basil leaves for the parsley sprinkled on at the end.

By Ann Taylor Pittman

Published on April 24, 2023

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce — Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Claire Spollen

Active Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 5 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

High-Protein Nut-Free Soy-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

1 ½ cups fat-free ricotta cheese
6 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
¼ cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, divided
1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
5 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1 large egg, lightly beaten
12 ounces extra-lean ground beef (93% lean)
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 (25-ounce) jar lower-sodium marinara sauce (such as Dell'Amore)
Cooking spray
6 lasagna noodles, cooked
1 ounce Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Combine ricotta, 2 ounces (about 1/2 cup) mozzarella, 2 tablespoons parsley, butter, oregano, 1 garlic clove and egg; set aside.
Place ground beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat; sprinkle with peppers and remaining 4 garlic cloves. Cook for 9 minutes or until beef is browned, stirring to crumble; drain. Return beef mixture to pan; stir in marinara sauce, and remove from heat.
Spread 1/2 cup meat sauce in bottom of a broiler-safe 11 x 7–inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Cut bottom third off each noodle to form 6 long and 6 short noodles; cut short noodles in half to form 12 pieces. Arrange 2 long noodles along outside edges of dish; arrange 4 short noodle pieces along center of dish.
Top noodles with 1 cup meat sauce. Top with 2 long noodles and 4 short noodle pieces, all of ricotta mixture and 1 cup meat sauce. Arrange remaining 2 long noodles and 4 short noodle pieces on top. Spread remaining meat sauce over top noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 4 ounces (1 cup) mozzarella cheese and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until bubbly.
Preheat broiler to high. (Keep lasagna in oven.)
Broil lasagna for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is golden brown and sauce is bubbly. Remove from oven; let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons parsley; cut into 6 pieces.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

378	Calories
15g	Fat
30g	Carbs
27g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 378
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 30g	11%
Protein 27g	54%
Total Fat 15g	19%
Saturated Fat 7g	35%
Cholesterol 92mg	31%
Sodium 591mg	26%
Calcium 395mg	30%
Iron 1mg	6%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.