DinnerCountEasy Lasagna
This is a classic layered lasagna, and you don’t have to boil the noodles. No-boil noodles go straight into the dish between layers of meat sauce and a ricotta and egg filling, with mozzarella on top. It bakes under foil and then uncovered until the cheese browns. Let it rest for ten minutes before you cut it so the layers hold. It feeds eight, and the leftovers reheat well.
Ingredients (serves 8)
- Lasagna noodles (no-boil)1 box (9 oz)
- Ground beef1 lb
- Marinara sauce (jar)2 jars (24 oz)
- Ricotta cheese15 oz
- Mozzarella shredded2 cups
- Parmesan cheese½ cup
- Egg1 each
- Italian seasoning1 tbsp
How Much to Make for 2, 4, 6, or 8
For 2 people, you’ll need about ¼ of a 9 oz box of lasagna noodles, ¼ lb ground beef, and 4 oz ricotta cheese.
For 4 people, you’ll need about ½ of a 9 oz box of lasagna noodles, ½ lb ground beef, and 8 oz ricotta cheese.
For 6 people, you’ll need about ¾ of a 9 oz box of lasagna noodles, ¾ lb ground beef, and 11 oz ricotta cheese.
For 8 people, you’ll need 1 box (9 oz) of lasagna noodles, 1 lb ground beef, and 15 oz ricotta cheese.
| Ingredient | For 2 | For 4 | For 6 | For 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasagna noodles (no-boil) | about ¼ of a 9 oz box | about ½ of a 9 oz box | about ¾ of a 9 oz box | 1 box (9 oz) |
| Ground beef | ¼ lb | ½ lb | ¾ lb | 1 lb |
| Marinara sauce (jar) | about ½ of a 24 oz jar | 1 jar (24 oz) | 1½ jars (24 oz) | 2 jars (24 oz) |
| Ricotta cheese | 4 oz | 8 oz | 11 oz | 15 oz |
| Mozzarella shredded | ½ cup | 1 cup | 1½ cups | 2 cups |
| Parmesan cheese | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | 6 tbsp | ½ cup |
| Egg | 1 each | 1 each | 1 each | 1 each |
| Italian seasoning | ¾ tsp | 1½ tsp | 2¼ tsp | 1 tbsp |
The amounts are rounded to what you can measure at home. Pounds are rounded to the nearest quarter or third, cups to the marks on a measuring cup, and spoons to real measuring spoons. An egg stays whole. Because of the rounding, some amounts are the same at two sizes.
- For 2: This recipe is written for 8 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 2 adult portions, which is roughly 0.3 times the recipe. This is less than the recipe assumes, and the steps name the dish for this amount. Start checking 5 to 10 minutes early.
- For 4: This recipe is written for 8 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 4 adult portions, which is roughly 0.5 times the recipe. This is less than the recipe assumes, and the steps name the dish for this amount. Start checking 5 to 10 minutes early.
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Steps
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Put the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook it for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. The beef is done when no pink remains and it reads 160°F on a thermometer. Spoon off the fat, then stir in half of the marinara and the Italian seasoning.
- In a bowl, stir the ricotta and the egg together until smooth.
- Choose the baking dish by the amount of noodles in the ingredient list. Use a 9×5 loaf pan for a quarter of a box or less, an 8×8 dish for up to half a box, a 9×13 dish for up to about 1½ boxes, and two 9×13 dishes for more. Spread a thin layer of the plain marinara over the bottom of the dish. Add a layer of noodles, then a third of the meat sauce, a third of the ricotta, and a third of the mozzarella. Make two more layers the same way. On the last layer, spoon the rest of the plain marinara over the noodles before you add the meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella. Finish with the Parmesan.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Take the foil off and bake 10 minutes more. The lasagna is done when the cheese is browned in spots, a knife slides easily through the noodles, and the center reads 165°F on a thermometer. The temperature matters because the ricotta mixture contains raw egg. If the center is not there yet, cover the dish with foil, bake 10 minutes more, and check again. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before you cut it, so the layers hold together.
Good to Know
- Contains Milk, Eggs, Wheat. This comes from the ingredient names, so it is not a complete list. The ingredient names do not show what is inside a jar, a mix, or a sauce, and formulas change. For an allergy or intolerance, read the package every time, and never decide from this line.
- 🌡 Lasagna: cook to 165°F at the thickest part, the USDA minimum for a casserole or reheated leftovers. A thermometer is the test, and color is not.
