Must-try Lasagna Recipes and How to Make them Like a Pro

January 22, 2024 2 Minute Read

While the traditional Italian dish is made by layering delicate sheets of pasta with hearty ragù and creamy béchamel or ricotta, almost any comfort casserole can become a homemade lasagna with the right recipe. Become an expert on this layered topic with our easy how-to guide.

Basic Lasagna Ingredients

While traditional lasagna recipes typically share these ingredients, there’s room for creativity once you’ve got the basics down:

Ragù

A tomato-based meat sauce typically lays the foundation for this classic dish, adding acid, subtle sweetness and a savory heartiness to every bite. For a traditional beef ragù, a mixture of chopped onions, garlic, carrots, celery and aromatic herbs is sautéed along with browned ground beef and tomatoes, and then simmered over a long period of time. Flavor-building ingredients like white wine, bay leaf, fresh basil and parsley can be added to infuse your sauce with brightness while building depth.

For nontraditional variations, consider your sauciest and heartiest ingredients. This Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna Rolls uses a combination of spinach, artichokes, mushrooms, and a combination of herbs and spices that will stand-out on your dinner table.

Spinach and Artichoke Lasagna Rolls

It’s a simple dinner you can make in under an hour that is sure to be a new family favorite!

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Béchamel, Ricotta or Cottage Cheese

Depending on the region of Italy, traditional lasagna uses béchamel (a creamy white sauce) or ricotta cheese to add richness between each layer. Italian-American dishes typically use ricotta cheese while American versions sometimes use cottage cheese. If you’re looking to keep things high in protein while avoiding milkfat, a cottage cheese lasagna may be a good option. Keep in mind that you may need to use an egg or 2 to bind the ingredients, since ricotta cheese typically has a more firm and creamy consistency than cottage cheese. You might also want to choose a pecorino Romano in addition to classic grated parmesan to sharpen the flavor.

Pasta

It’s no secret that lasagna is the type of pasta used in most versions, but even this staple ingredient invites creativity or fun twists to modernize a recipe. This Pepperoni Lasagna Cups recipe, for example, uses wonton wrappers, rather than lasagna noodles, spread out in a muffin tin. Layer with ricotta, cheese, marinara, and pepperoni, to create a fun twist on a classic recipe.

Grated Parmesan, Pecorino Romano or Mozzarella

Top off your assembled dish with your choice of cheese. Grated parmesan, pecorino Romano or shredded mozzarella are classic choices for creating that coveted bubbly topping, but these ingredients can be swapped with alternatives that best suit the flavors of your preferred recipe.