There's nothing better than a big dish of lasagna straight from the oven. It smells amazing, tastes rich and comforting, and brings everyone to the table. This recipe is a favorite in our house, especially on weekends or when we have guests. It's simple, homemade, and full of Italian flavor.

Classic Italian Lasagna with Rich Beef Sauce
Lasagna has always been one of my go-to meals. I love how you can prepare it ahead of time, pop it in the oven, and have a full meal ready without stress.
I've made many versions over the years, but this one is special. No béchamel sauce here-just a rich tomato meat sauce, fresh herbs, soft pasta, and melted mozzarella. It's easier, lighter, and you taste the tomato and beef in every bite. Give it a try, and I think it might become your favorite too.
Tips for this Simple Family Lasagna with Tomato and Cheese
- Let the lasagna rest after baking. This helps the layers set and makes cutting and serving easier.
- Pre-cook dried lasagna sheets if you want extra soft layers.
- Use fresh mozzarella for that perfect creamy melt.
- Bake covered with foil first, then remove it to brown the top.
- Brush exposed pasta edges with a bit of olive oil to prevent drying.

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📖 Recipe
VIDEO
RECIPE CARD
Ingredients
Meat sauce
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1¼ pound ground beef
- ½ oz. Italian herbs, thyme, rosemary, basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 14 oz. Whole peeled tomatoes
- 14 oz. sieved tomatoes, Passata
- 4 teaspoons sugar, adjust to taste
- 1 bay leaf
Lasagna
- 12 lasagna sheets, fresh
- ½ cup Gouda cheese, grated
- 1 cup mozzarella, sliced or shredded
All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.
Instructions
Meat sauce
- Heat a bit of olive oil in a pan on low heat.
- Add onion and tomato paste. Sauté for 3 minutes until the paste smells sweet.1 onion, ½ cup tomato paste
- Add garlic and fry for two more minutes.3 cloves garlic
- Add ground beef and fry until browned.1¼ pound ground beef
- Stir in herbs and salt.½ oz. Italian herbs, 1 teaspoon salt
- Add peeled tomatoes, passata, and sugar.14 oz. Whole peeled tomatoes, 14 oz. sieved tomatoes, 4 teaspoons sugar
- Put the bay leaf on top. Cover and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.1 bay leaf
Assemble the Lasagna:
- Preheat the oven to 430 ℉.
- Spread ⅓ of the meat sauce in a baking dish.
- Cover with lasagna sheets. Repeat layers: sauce, pasta, sauce.12 lasagna sheets
- Top with cheese and mozzarella.½ cup Gouda cheese, 1 cup mozzarella
- Bake for 30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Notes
- Fridge: Keep covered lasagna in the refrigerator for 2 days.
- Freezer: Freeze before baking for best results. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake for 40 minutes. Freeze baked or unbaked for up to 3 months in airtight containers.











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