Go Back Email Link
–+ servings
Close-up of a baked lasagna with melted cheese and tomato sauce in a blue dish, crafted to perfection by Owl Creek Farm.

Lasagna

Amy @ owlcreek.ca
Four Cheeses and a delicious Meat Sauce Lasagna, with no strange ingredients. Just good food. Includes easy to follow layering instructions.
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Resting Time 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, American-Italian, Italian
Servings 15 people
Calories 430 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 9 lasagna noodles

Meat Sauce Ingredients

  • 2 lbs lean ground meat beef, pork, sausage, or a mix.
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1-2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 cans tomato sauce 398ml/14oz each
  • 2 cans tomato paste 156ml/5oz each

Cheese Mixture Ingredients

  • 3 eggs large, beaten
  • 3 cups cottage cheese see notes
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese see notes
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated or small shreds
  • 2-3 tbsp dried parsley

Other Ingredients

  • 4-6 cups mozzarella cheese grated, divided

Instructions
 

Meat Sauce and Pasta

  • Start approximately 5 quarts of water in large pot to boil on high heat.
  • In a separate skillet, brown 2 lbs lean ground meat on medium heat, breaking it up as finely as possible (much love for our Starfrit Meat Chopper here!).
  • Add 1 tbsp minced garlic, 1-2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp pepper, and 1 tsp salt, and stir to coat the ground meat in the seasonings.
  • Add 3 cans tomato sauce and 2 cans tomato paste.
  • Simmer on low to medium low heat while preparing the other ingredients.
  • When water starts to boil, add 9 lasagna noodlesUse a long handled cooking utensil to occasionally move the noodles around so they don't stick. Cook for time indicated on package.

Cheese Mixture

  • Combine the 3 eggs, 3 cups cottage cheese, 1 cup ricotta cheese, and ½ cup parmesan cheese, and 2-3 tbsp dried parsley. Set aside.

Assemble

  • Preheat oven to 375°f
  • In a deep 9x13" baking dish, spread about 1 cup meat mixture and place 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
  • Carefully spread about ½ of the cheese mixture (about 2 cups) on top of the noodles, followed by spreading approximately 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese over the cheese mixture.
  • Lay 3 more noodles on the mozzarella, followed by 2 cups of the meat sauce. Carefully spread the remaining Cheese Mixture over the meat sauce, then 1-2 more cups of mozzarella cheese.
  • Layer with remaining 3 noodles, remaining meat sauce, and the rest of the mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 50 minutes.
  • Remove foil and cook for another 25 minutes, or until bubbly throughout and cheese is browning.
    Close-up of a baked lasagna with melted cheese and tomato sauce in a blue dish, crafted to perfection by Owl Creek Farm.
  • Remove from oven and cool on stovetop of trivets for about 15 minutes, before cutting.
    A close-up of a slice of lasagna with layers of noodles, meat, and cheese rests invitingly on a blue and white plate, crafted to perfection by Owl Creek Farm.

Notes

Cottage and ricotta cheeses: You can use all cottage cheese, all ricotta cheese or any mix of the 2. We like the blend of 3 cups cottage to 1 cup ricotta but have used different proportions with success.
Nutrition values below are based on using all lean ground beef, 3 cups cottage cheese, 1 cup ricotta, and 6 cups mozzarella cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 37gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 1603mgPotassium: 1053mgFiber: 4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1456IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 386mgIron: 5mg