An Easy Lasagna Recipe to Master

Name: An Easy Lasagna Recipe to Master
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pack lasagna noodles; 4 tbsp canola oil; 1 pc onion, chopped; 6 cloves garlic, chopped; 1/2 kg ground beef; 1/2 kg tomato sauce; 1 pc Knorr Beef Cube; 1/4 cup banana ketchup; 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 2 pcs bay leaves; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/4 cup butter or margarine; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 2 cups fresh milk; 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 cup grated quick-melt or mozzarella cheese (or both)

Lasagna is a centerpiece dish, with its enticing layers of flat pasta, meaty red sauce, creamy béchamel, and decadent cheese. This Italian specialty is known to be quite labor-intensive, but it doesn't have to be. If you're a busy home cook with no time to spare, this easy lasagna recipe is for you. It has all the components of your favorite multi-layered pasta but comes together in just one hour.

The secret is in flavor enhancers like beef cubes that speed up the cooking process without sacrificing taste. This recipe also calls for ultra-melty cheeses like mozzarella and lasagna sheets you can prep ahead for maximum efficiency. Ready? Time to cook!

Tips

Garnish with fresh basil leaves for a pop of color and add chili flakes to your sauce if you like it spicy.

60 min.
6 People
Medium
Average

Ingredients

For the pasta:

1 pack lasagna noodles

For the meat sauce:

4 tbsp canola oil
1 pc onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 kg ground beef
1/2 kg tomato sauce
1 pc Knorr Beef Cube
1/4 cup banana ketchup
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 pcs bay leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano

For the white sauce:

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups fresh milk
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

For the topping:

1 cup grated quick-melt or mozzarella cheese (or both)

Cooking Method

Prepare lasagna noodles according to package directions. Set aside.
Make the meat sauce. Pour oil into a pan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook until aromatic. Add ground beef and cook until lightly browned.
Add tomato sauce, Knorr Beef Cube, and banana ketchup; mix well. Add pepper, bay leaves, and oregano. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened. Set aside.
Make the white sauce: Heat a small saucepan over medium flame. Add butter and melt. Stir in flour and cook until it becomes pasty.
Slowly whisk milk into pan and season with nutmeg. Continue to cook until slightly thickened into a gravy-like consistency. If the sauce has thickened too much, add more milk or water to thin it out.
To assemble, layer lasagna noodles in a rectangular baking dish. Pour some meat sauce over the pasta, followed by some white sauce. Sprinkle some cheese over this layer. Continue layering, ending with cheese on top.
Bake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Serve hot.

If you're making this easy lasagna recipe for a future event, you can already prep the sauces ahead. Just freeze them and carefully reheat them on the stovetop when you're ready for assembly. You can also pack your lasagna full of veggies. Spinach, zucchini, and bell peppers can make this dish more nutritious and colorful without changing the taste. It's a fool-proof way to get picky eaters — and yourself — to eat more veg. Try this one for dinner!