Lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food. It is also the perfect make-ahead meal for stress-free entertaining or weeknight dinners. It uses a mixture of ground beef and ground pork as well as a secret ingredient: ground cinnamon! Meaty, creamy, and cheesy, there is nothing better than piping hot lasagna with a slice of crusty bread and a glass of red wine!
Ingredients for Classic Traditional Lasagna
To make easy traditional lasagna, you will need the following ingredients:
- Lasagna noodles (or gluten-free noodles if needed)
- Bulk Italian sausage
- Ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Water
- Sugar
- Parsley
- Dried basil
- Dried oregano
- Ground cinnamon
- Egg
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese (block)
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Easy Traditional Lasagna
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent them from sticking to each other. Set aside.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bulk Italian sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink is left in the meat. Crumble the meat and sausage as you cook them. Drain the excess fat. - Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, ground cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 mins stirring occasionally.
- Mix the ricotta cheese with the cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, 3 tbsp of chopped parsley, salt, and pepper, in a medium-sized bowl.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Spoon 2 cups of meat sauce into the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out evenly. Layer 3 lasagna noodles over the meat sauce and spoon ⅓ of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella over the ricotta mixture. Repeat twice more ending with the remaining meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 25 mins. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
What Is The Best Way To Layer Lasagna?
A thin layer of meat sauce first, followed by noodles, then cheese mixture and shredded cheeses, meat sauce, and repeat ending with a thin layer of meat sauce and shredded cheeses.
How Do I Know When The Lasagna is Done?
The lasagna will be done when it’s bubbling around the edges and the cheese is melted and slightly golden on top.

Easy Traditional Lasagna
Ingredients
- 9 lasagna noodles (or gluten-free noodles if needed)
- 1 lb bulk Italian sausage
- 1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 cup onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 - 28 oz cans crushed tomatoes
- 1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 5 tbsp chopped parsley, divided
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ⅛ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup full fat ricotta cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, freshly shredded and divided
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent them from sticking to each other. Set aside.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the bulk Italian sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink is left in the meat. Crumble the meat and sausage as you cook them. Drain the excess fat.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water, 2 tbsp chopped parsley, dried basil, dried oregano, ground cinnamon, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Mix the ricotta cheese with the cottage cheese, beaten eggs, Parmesan cheese, 3 tbsp of chopped parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium-sized bowl.
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and preheat the oven to 375 F.
- Spoon 2 cups of meat sauce into the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out evenly. Layer 3 lasagna noodles over the meat sauce and spoon ⅓ of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and 2 tbsp Parmesan over the ricotta mixture. Repeat twice more ending with the remaining meat sauce and mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Prevent Lasagna From Being Watery?
This depends on the consistency of the meat sauce. You want a thick meat sauce, not a watery one. If your meat sauce is too watery, simmer it a bit more until it thickens. Also, let the lasagna settle for 10-15 minutes after taking it out of the oven before cutting it.
Can I Use Store Bought Sauce?
You can, but buy a good quality marinara to mix with the cooked ground beef and Italian sausage.
Do I Have To Use Both Pork and Beef?
This is the traditional recipe, but you can use only beef or even ground turkey or chicken if you want to cut down on the calories.
Can I Make Lasagna Ahead of Time?
Lasagna is the perfect make-ahead recipe! Prepare the lasagna but instead of baking it, cover it with two layers of plastic wrap and one of foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
Is It Necessary To Cook the Noodles First?
You can buy pre-cooked lasagna noodles, but you have to pay attention to which noodles you buy. Regular noodles have to be cooked before use, but pre-cooked noodles can be used as is.