Learn how to make easy lasagna, an easy family-friendly dinner that kids can make on a busy weeknight or to feed a crowd!

Lasagna is one of the best recipes to teach kids how to make because it’s very forgiving and measurements don’t have to be exact, yet it almost always turns out delicious.
Most of the ingredients are pantry/freezer staples so you’ll likely have most of them on hand already. Lasagna is also a really easy recipe to double so you can easily make two at once without much extra effort and give one to a friend or freeze for later.
How To Make Easy Lasagna Step by Step
Making lasagna is a simple process and if you choose to use no-boil lasagna noodles, it’s even easier. It pretty much just involves a few steps:
- Cook a simple meat sauce.
- Mix ricotta cheese with some spices.
- Layer the lasagna.
- Bake and serve.
Easy Homemade Lasagna Recipe
Watch my six-year-old show you how easy it is to make lasagna!
Here’s the recipe we use for easy homemade lasagna.
PrintEasy Lasagna Recipe
Learn how to make lasagna, an easy family-friendly dinner that kids can make on a busy weeknight or to feed a crowd!
Ingredients
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- optional – 1-2 cups diced/shredded vegetables
- 1 pound ground turkey (or ground beef. You can easily use 1.5–2 pounds)
- 2 (24oz) jars of your favorite spaghetti sauce
- no-boil lasagna noodles (approximately 12 noodles)
- 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 egg, optional
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano (or Italian seasoning)
- 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Saute garlic and onion with a little oil over medium-high heat. (Also add veggies if using)
- Add ground meat and cook until meat is no longer pink.
- Add jar of spaghetti sauce.
- After dumping the sauce, add about 1/4 cup water to the jar, put the lid on and shake it up. Then add to pan. This helps you not waste sauce!
- Put ricotta in a bowl and add warm water. Stir to combine. Add egg, if using, and spices.
- In a 9×13 pan, add a thin layer of sauce to the bottom.
- Top with noodles.
- Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture across the noodles.
- Top with 1/3 of the sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella.
- Repeat the layers 2 more times, finishing with a heavier layer of mozzarella on the very top.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Take the foil off at bake another 10 minutes. (Or follow package directions for your no-boil noodles for cooking time).
- Let lasagna rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting.
How To Make Lasagna FAQs
What is the correct order to layer lasagna?
Always add a little sauce to the bottom of the baking dish first. Then add a layer of noodles. Top the noodles with ricotta cheese, then meat sauce, then a sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat two more times.
What else can you put in lasagna?
Feel free to use ground beef or turkey in your meat sauce. You can also easily add lots of vegetables. Dice or shred them and mix them in with the sauce. Things like carrots, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and spinach work well.
Can you make lasagna ahead of time?
Yes! You can assemble all the layers ahead of time, cover with foil and store in the fridge for 24 hours before baking. You may need to add a bit of additional cook time if the lasagna is cold from the fridge.
Lasagna also tastes great the second and third day so feel free to make it ahead of time and simply reheat in the oven or heat single pieces in the microwave before serving.
You can also just make the sauce ahead of time to save time.
Can you freeze lasagna?
Yes. You can freeze assembled, but prior to baking. I’ve found this works better with noodles that you cook vs oven-ready lasagna noodles. You can also freeze after baking.
Sometimes it helps to cut into smaller portion sizes after cooking and freeze that way so that you can pull out individual servings as needed.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and then heat in the microwave or oven.
Can you bake lasagna from frozen without thawing?
Yes, simply bake for a longer time – typically an hour and 10 minutes or so.

Do you cook the lasagna pasta before baking?
This is up to you. I’ve made it both ways. I’ve cooked the noodles in a pot of water, drained them and then used them to make lasagna. I’ve also tried several of the no-boil lasagna noodles that are on the market now.
In my experience, oven-ready lasagna noodles are easier for kids. Cooked noodles can be hot and sticky and difficult to manage. As long as you cover all of the no-boil noodles with sauce, they cook perfectly fine in the oven.
Do you put lasagna in the oven with or without foil?
Always start by covering your lasagna with foil. If not, it will dry out and the noodles can get hard and crusty. Leave the foil on for the first 20 minutes or so and then uncover and bake for 10 more minutes. If you want you can turn on the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end to get the cheese on top golden brown and bubbly.
Do you bake lasagna at 350 or 375?
If you’re using no boil noodles, follow the instructions on the box. Most will say bake at 375 for 30-40 minutes. Always let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before trying to cut it.
How many layers in lasagna?
I always aim for a little covering of sauce on the bottom and then 3 layers of noodles, cheese, sauce.
Why do you put an egg in ricotta cheese for lasagna?
This is an optional step but it basically helps to bind the ricotta and make it just a bit creamier.
Can you make lasagna with cottage cheese?
Yes! You can sub cottage cheese for ricotta in most lasagna recipes. It will make the lasagna a bit lighter in texture than using ricotta.

Want more lasagna recipes? Try these:
Let us know if you try this lasagna! And if you need more easy dinners, try these:
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
Leave a Reply