You’ve decided to try your hand at an Italian comfort food classic, lasagna. But how long do you bake a lasagna at 350? You want a lasagna that is creamy, thick, not overcooked and has a nice cheese pull on top. Let’s discuss how to achieve that!
How Long to Bake Lasagna at 350
Lasagna made with precooked, al-dente lasagna noodles should bake for 50-60 minutes at 350. For oven-ready lasagna noodles, you can bake between 35-45 minutes. Remove the foil for the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time to ensure the top layer of cheese is completely melted.
Alternatively, lasagna can be baked at 375 for 45-55 minutes removing the foil for the last ten minutes.
The Best Lasagna Recipe
Everyone has a signature dish, right? You know the one when there’s a potluck and family gathering and you’re asked to bring it every time? Believe it or not, my lasagna is that dish. Lasagna and spinach dip (but I’m not sharing that one!)
A good lasagna is comforting. Most of us know the effort it takes to make homemade lasagna, and I believe that it is appreciated. Whenever I make a lasagna, I almost always make two. It’s often a meal that people ask me to make for them and when my family discovers that I’m making lasagna, they want one too.
This lasagna is often given away as a gift of love. I make it when a friend has a baby when I’m visiting family, and even have given pans of lasagna away for Christmas gifts. It is always received well and is very appreciated.
So, what’s so special about this lasagna? This sauce is homemade. It makes a world of difference, in taste and in the overall texture of the lasagna. The jarred sauces usually result in a watery lasagna (which we’ll discuss a bit later in this post)
The Best Beef Lasagna Recipe
2 lbs ground beef
large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 (14 1/2ounce) cans stewed tomatoes undrained (or canned chopped tomatoes)
2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
For the lasagna: 24 ounces ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons parsley
1⁄2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 lb mozzarella cheese, divided
12 -15 lasagna noodles, cooked
Tools you may need:
How to do it:
- In a large pot or a dutch oven over medium heat, brown ground beef
- Add in onions and garlic, saute until soft, 3-5 minutes
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place lid on pot then turn heat to low.
- Simmer sauce for 1 ½ -2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to the directions.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, remaining two tbsp chopped parsley, and ½ tsp salt
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Assemble lasagna:
- Using a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish,
- – First layer: Place 3-4 lasagna noodles at the bottom of the dish
- – Second layer: Pour 1 ½-2 cups meat sauce on top of noodles
- – Third Layer: Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the meat sauce and sprinkle a handful of mozzarella on top
- – Repeat layers one more time
- – Last layer- Top the ricotta mozzarella mixture with with 3-4 lasagna noodles then cover with mozzarella cheese
- Loosley cover with aluminum foil (spray foil with oil spray to prevent it from sticking to the cheese) and bake for 25 minutes covered. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Let lasagna cool for 20 minutes before serving.
FAQ’s
How to reheat lasagna?
To reheat lasagna, preheat the oven at 350 degrees Farenheit. Place foil over lasagna and bake for 30 minutes.
What can I do with leftover lasagna sheets?
Leftover lasagna sheets and be cut or torn and added into soup. Lasagna soup is a favorite. They can also be stuffed with meat and cheese then rolled for a lasagna roll up dish.
Why is my lasagna soupy?
Lasagna gets soupy if there is too much sauce or the sauce itself is too watery. This is the reason it is preferred to make your own lasagna sauce.
Can you boil oven ready lasagna noodles?
Yes, most oven ready noodles can be boiled for 2-3 minutes or until they are pliable. Be sure not to overcook them.
What is the correct order to layer lasagna?
To maintain structure after a lasagna is cooked and cut, first layer lasagna noodles, then sauce, then cheese mixture. The last layer should be lasagna noodles.
What to Serve with Lasagna – Lasagna Side Dishes
Green Salad– A crisp green salad is a great and simple side dish to serve alongside the creaminess of a lasagna. A Caesar style salad is delicious or even Italian salad with black olives, tomatoes, and pepperoncini.
Steamed Vegetables– Another easy side dish to serve alongside lasagna is steamed veggies such as broccolini or green beans. After spending so much time cooking and baking a lasagna, having a simple side dish is a great idea. Not to mention the simple flavor of steamed veggies will not compete with flavors of the lasagna.
Garlic Bread– Garlic bread is a delicious accompaniment to lasagna. The garlic of the bread blends with the garlic of the lasagna. Bread is good for soaking up the meat sauce and if toasted, adds a crunch that balances the richness of lasagna.
Sauteed Swiss Chard– The bitterness of swiss chard pairs well with the creaminess of lasagna. Simply sauté in a bit of olive oil, some minced garlic, and salt and pepper to taste.
What sides do you like to serve with lasagna?
The BEST Beef Lasagna
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 large onion chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh coarse ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 2 14 1/2ounce cans stewed tomatoes undrained (or canned chopped tomatoes)
- 2 8 oz cans tomato sauce
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
For the Lasagna
- 24 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 lb mozzarella cheese divided
- 12 -15 lasagna noodles cooked
Instructions
- In a large pot or a dutch oven over medium heat, brown ground beef
- Add in onions and garlic, saute until soft, 3-5 minutes
- Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Place lid on pot then turn heat to low.
- Simmer sauce for 1 ½ -2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile cook lasagna noodles according to directions.
- In a small mixing bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, remaining two tbsp chopped parsley, and ½ tsp salt
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Assemble lasagna:
- Using a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish,
- – First layer: Place 3-4 lasagna noodles at the bottom of the dish
- – Second layer: Pour 1 ½-2 cups meat sauce on top of noodles
- – Third Layer: Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the meat sauce and sprinkle a handful of mozzarella on top
- – Repeat layers one more time
- – Last layer- Top the ricotta mozeralla mixture with with 3-4 lasagana noodles then cover with mozzarella cheese
- Loosley cover with aluminum foil (spray foil with oil spray to prevent it from sticking to the cheese) and bake for 25 minutes covered. Remove foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes. Let lasagna cool for 20 minutes before serving.