The “Secret to the Creamiest Layers”: The Ultimate Classic Lasagna with Ricotta!

What is the one element that transforms a good lasagna into a truly unforgettable, spectacular one? While the rich meat sauce is important, it’s that luscious, creamy, and slightly sweet layer of cheese filling that truly defines the classic comfort food experience. It is the heart and soul of the dish.

That beautiful, dreamy layer is, of course, the iconic ricotta cheese filling. When it is prepared correctly, it provides the perfect, cool and creamy counterpoint to the hot, savory meat sauce. It is a match made in culinary heaven that creates a perfect balance in every bite.

Today, we are celebrating that perfect pairing with our Classic Lasagna Recipe with Ricotta. This detailed guide is all about creating the creamiest, most flavourful ricotta filling for the ultimate homemade lasagna. Get ready to master the version of lasagna that is pure, cheesy perfection.

The Ultimate Family Feast: Homemade Lasagna Recipe

This Homemade Lasagna Recipe is the ultimate family feast, perfect for a Sunday dinner or a special celebration. The recipe is built on three perfect, from-scratch components: a rich and savory meat sauce, a creamy and luscious ricotta cheese filling, and layers of tender pasta. When baked together, they create a harmonious and incredibly delicious masterpiece.

A Perfect Recipe for Classic Comfort Food and Easy Family Dinners

You will find that this is the perfect recipe for classic comfort food. It is a hearty, satisfying, and crowd-pleasing meal that will have everyone at the table feeling happy and full. This dish is also one of the absolute best easy family dinners, as it can be made ahead of time, making it a stress-free option for entertaining.

Your Guide: How to Make a Ricotta Filling for Lasagna That is Not Watery

For anyone wondering how to make a ricotta filling for lasagna that is not watery, the simple and most important secret is to use a high-quality, whole milk ricotta cheese and to add a single egg to the mixture. The egg acts as a crucial binder, helping the ricotta filling to set up beautifully as the lasagna bakes. This simple trick prevents the ricotta from becoming runny and ensures your final slices are perfectly layered and not watery.

Why You’ll Love This Lasagna with Ricotta

You are going to love this recipe because it creates a truly authentic, Italian-American style lasagna that is packed with a rich, savory, and deeply comforting flavor. You’ll also adore the incredible combination of textures, from the hearty meat sauce to the creamy, luscious ricotta filling and the gooey, melted cheese on top. Plus, it’s a perfect make-ahead meal that you can assemble in advance, making it ideal for stress-free entertaining.

Nutritional Benefits

This beautiful and hearty lasagna is the ultimate comfort food for a special gathering. It is absolutely packed with high-quality protein from the ground meat and the various cheeses, including the ricotta. It also provides satisfying carbohydrates from the pasta for a truly complete and energizing meal that will keep you full and happy for hours.

Full Recipe

Are you ready to create a show-stopping lasagna that will become a legendary recipe in your family? This comprehensive guide will walk you through every simple step, from simmering the rich meat sauce to creating the perfect creamy filling. Get ready to master a new family-favorite that is the very definition of comfort food.

Experience creamy, cheesy perfection with this classic lasagna recipe with ricotta. The smooth, slightly sweet ricotta cheese filling is the perfect counterpoint to the savory, robust meat sauce. This homemade baked lasagna is golden, bubbly, and absolutely irresistible.

Prep Time: 30 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes | Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes | Yield: 8-10 servings | Category: Dinner, Main Course | Method: Baking, Simmering | Cuisine: Italian-American | Diet: N/A

Essential Ingredients for Lasagna with Ricotta

This classic comfort food masterpiece comes together with three delicious components.

• For the Rich Meat Sauce:
  • 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef
  • 1 lb (450g) bulk Italian sausage
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 large can (28 oz / 794g) of crushed tomatoes
  • 2 small cans (6 oz / 170g each) of tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons of dried oregano
• For the Creamy Ricotta Filling:
  • 1 container (15 oz / 425g) of whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley
• For Assembling:
  • 12 lasagna noodles, cooked
  • 4 cups (16 oz / 450g) of shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Ingredients Notes

A little more detail on our key ingredients will ensure your lasagna is a spectacular success.

• The Meat: Using a combination of both lean ground beef and flavour-packed Italian sausage is the secret to a truly rich and complex meat sauce. The Italian sausage, in particular, adds a wonderful, savory, and herby flavor to the base of the dish.
• The Ricotta Filling: For the absolute creamiest and most luscious filling, it is essential that you use a high-quality, whole milk ricotta cheese. The addition of an egg to the ricotta mixture is a crucial step that acts as a binder, helping the cheese layer to set up beautifully as it bakes so it doesn’t run out when you slice the lasagna.
• The Noodles: While you can use no-boil lasagna noodles as a shortcut, taking the extra time to boil classic, standard lasagna noodles will result in a more tender and authentic final texture. Be sure to cook them just until they are al dente, as they will continue to cook in the oven.
• The Mozzarella Cheese: A low-moisture mozzarella cheese is the best choice for that classic, gooey, “cheese pull” that everyone loves. For the best melting, it is always recommended to buy a block of mozzarella and shred it yourself just before using.

How to Achieve Creamy, Cheesy Perfection

Let’s walk through the simple steps to create this perfect, classic lasagna dinner.

• Step 1: Create the Rich Meat Sauce. In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef and the Italian sausage over a medium-high heat until it is browned. Drain off the excess grease, then add the chopped onion and cook until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until fragrant, then stir in the crushed tomatoes, the tomato paste, the oregano, and about a cup of water, and let the sauce simmer for at least one hour.
• Step 2: Cook the Lasagna Noodles. While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook your lasagna noodles according to the package directions, until they are al dente. Drain the noodles and lay them flat on a piece of parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
• Step 3: Prepare the Creamy Ricotta Filling. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, the beaten egg, the grated Parmesan cheese, the fresh parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Step 4: The First Layer. Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of the cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce.
• Step 5: Build the Layers. Spread half of the prepared ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Top with another layer of the meat sauce and a generous sprinkle of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat this entire process one more time: noodles, the remaining ricotta, more meat sauce, and more mozzarella.
• Step 6: The Final Layer and Baking. For the final layer, place your last set of noodles on top, and cover them with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the rest of your mozzarella cheese all over the top. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
• Step 7: Brown and Rest. Remove the foil and bake for another 25 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbly. Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before you slice and serve it. This is a crucial step!

Storage Options

Leftover lasagna is absolutely delicious, and the flavours often get even better the next day. Once the lasagna has cooled completely, you can cover the baking dish tightly with foil or transfer individual slices to an airtight container. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Variations and Substitutions

This classic recipe is a wonderful and versatile template. You can easily make this a vegetarian lasagna by simply omitting the meat and adding some sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, and zucchini to your tomato sauce. For a different cheesy flavour, you can substitute the mozzarella cheese with an Italian cheese blend or some provolone.

Practical & Valuable Tips

For the most flavourful sauce, be sure to let your meat sauce simmer for at least one full hour; this is the key to developing a deep, rich taste. When you are assembling your lasagna, be sure to start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan to prevent the noodles from sticking. Finally, the most important tip of all is to let your finished, baked lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before you slice into it; this allows the layers to set and will result in beautiful, clean slices.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use cottage cheese instead of ricotta? While some recipes use cottage cheese as a substitute, whole milk ricotta cheese is highly recommended for the most authentic, creamy, and traditional texture. If you do use cottage cheese, it is a good idea to blend it first to make it smoother, and you may need to drain off some of its excess liquid.
2. My ricotta filling seems watery. What did I do wrong? A watery ricotta filling is usually a result of either not using whole milk ricotta, or from forgetting to add the egg. The egg is the crucial binder that helps the ricotta layer to set up and become firm, not runny, as it bakes.
3. Can I make this lasagna ahead of time? Yes, this is the perfect make-ahead meal! You can fully assemble the entire unbaked lasagna in your baking dish, cover it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before you plan to bake it. You will just need to add about 15-20 minutes to the total baking time since it will be starting from cold.
4. Can I freeze this lasagna? Yes, this lasagna freezes beautifully. You can freeze the entire unbaked lasagna for up to 3 months. You would then thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before you bake it as directed.
5. What is the best way to serve this hearty lasagna? This rich and hearty lasagna is a fantastic main course on its own. It is wonderful served with a side of warm, crusty garlic bread for dipping into the delicious sauce. A simple green salad with a light, acidic vinaigrette is also a perfect and refreshing accompaniment to cut through the richness of the cheese.

Conclusion

This Classic Lasagna Recipe with Ricotta is the ultimate homemade comfort food for any family gathering. It’s a dish that takes simple, classic ingredients and, with a little bit of love, transforms them into a hearty, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying feast. It is a foolproof, timeless recipe that is guaranteed to have everyone at your table asking for seconds. It’s the comfort food classic you’ve been dreaming of. If you love this classic and delicious recipe, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite dinner recipes board on Pinterest!