Description
This recipe for traditional lasagna with Sunset Marinara and Basil Ribbons offers a hearty, family-friendly meal, designed for busy home cooks seeking comfort without complexity. It’s an easy dinner idea that’s both satisfying and impressive, even for hectic weeknights.
Ingredients
- 9–12 oven-ready lasagna sheets (approx. 250g)
- 450g (1 lb) ground beef or ground turkey
- 450g (15 oz) ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (300g)
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
- 2 x 680g (24 oz) jars Sunset Marinara Sauce
- 0.5 cup lightly packed fresh basil ribbons
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 large egg (optional)
Instructions
- Brown Meat and Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat, onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat, until browned and the onion is translucent. Drain any excess fat.
- Simmer Marinara Sauce: Pour in the Sunset Marinara Sauce, stir well. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and cook until slightly thickened, watching for bubbles to break on the surface.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, Parmesan, egg (if using), salt, and black pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy.
- Layer Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of Sunset Marinara (about 0.5 cup) in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles. Spread half the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Repeat layers: sauce, noodles, remaining ricotta, mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of noodles, generously topped with sauce and the remaining mozzarella. (If your sauce seems too thick, splash in 0.25 cup of water or broth to ensure noodles hydrate properly.)
- Bake Lasagna: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cover the baking dish tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover for the last 15-25 minutes, allowing the cheese to become golden and bubbly on top.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes. Garnish generously with fresh Basil Ribbons just before serving.
Notes
Use oven-ready noodles to save pre-boiling time. Consider pre-chopped onions and garlic or a high-quality jarred marinara for shortcuts. Ensure enough sauce between layers to prevent dry lasagna and hydrate noodles. Always let lasagna rest for at least 10-15 minutes after baking to prevent runny layers. Store fresh basil in a damp paper towel in the fridge. Grate and freeze extra cheese for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 200 g)
- Calories: 520 calories
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: traditional lasagna, easy dinner, Sunset Marinara, Basil Ribbons, family meal, comfort food, weeknight, hearty, Italian-American, baked