Three Cheese Lasagna with Ground Beef. Ricotta, Mozzarella, and Romano cheeses layered with ground beef, lasagna noodles, and marinara sauce.
A classic Italian-American dish, this three cheese lasagna with ground beef will not disappoint. The combination of pasta, sauce, cheese, and ground beef produces the perfect bite of food. At least in my opinion.
Making a lasagna does require a time commitment. The process is not difficult, but does require several steps and about 2 hours of your time. Because of this, I typically make lasagna for special occasions like birthdays, family parties, football Sunday, or if one of my kids requests it.
To maximize the efficiency of making a lasagna, I will typically make 2 lasagnas and save one in the freezer for another occasion. I spending the effort to buy all of those ingredients and set up my stations to layer the lasagna, so I might as well make an extra three cheese lasagna with ground beef.
NOTE
Before beginning the recipe remember to read the “Invent Your Recipe” section below for additional suggestions, recipe combinations, or ingredient alternatives.
How to Make the Best Three Cheese Lasagna with Ground Beef
Preparing the Pasta:
- In a large pot, add 8 quarts of water and ¼ cup of salt and bring to boil. Add lasagna and cook until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Be sure to stir occasionally to prevent the lasagna noodles from sticking together. Strain pasta and rinse with cold water. Place noodles on parchment paper for easy assembly of the lasagna.
Preparing the Ground Beef:
- While the lasagna noodles are cooking. In a large skillet on high heat add 1 pound of ground beef, ½ teaspoon of salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Cook until ground beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove ground beef to a bowl to cool.
Preparing the Cheese Mixture:
- In a large bowl combine 2 pounds of Ricotta cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, and 3/4 cup of grated Romano cheese. Reserve 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of grated cheese for the top of the lasagna.
Building the Lasagna:
- In the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan or aluminum lasagna pan add 1 cup of marinara sauce and spread evenly. Next, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the marinara sauce to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon in half of the cheese mixture and spread evenly. Then add in half of the ground beef and spread evenly either with a spoon or your hand. Next, you will complete this process again to complete a second layer.
- Add 1 cup of marinara sauce and spread evenly. Next, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the marinara sauce to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon in the remaining cheese mixture and spread evenly. Then add in the remaining ground beef and spread evenly either with a spoon or your hand.
- To finish the lasagna, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the cheese mixture. Next, add 1 cup of marinara sauce to the top of the lasagna and spread evenly. Then, sprinkle the 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of grated Romano cheese over the marinara sauce to finish off building the lasagna. Place lasagna into a 350 degree oven and cook for 45-60 minutes until the lasagna is heated throughout and the cheese on top has melted.
How to Serve Three Cheese Lasagna with Ground Beef
- Remove the lasagna from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Serve the three cheese lasagna with ground beef recipe with a side salad and crusty bread.
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The Recipe
Lasagna with Meat
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. of lasagna
- 1 lb. of 80/20 ground beef
- 4 cups of marinara sauce
- ¼ cup of salt for water
- ½ tsp salt for ground beef
- ¼ black pepper for ground beef
- ½ tsp garlic powder for ground beef
- 2 lbs. of Ricotta cheese
- 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup of grated Romano cheese
Instructions
Preparing the Pasta:
- In a large pot, add 8 quarts of water and ¼ cup of salt and bring to boil. Add lasagna and cook until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Be sure to stir occasionally to prevent the lasagna noodles from sticking together.2 lbs. of lasagna, ¼ cup of salt for water
- Strain pasta and rinse with cold water. Place noodles on parchment paper for easy assembly of the lasagna.
Preparing the ground Beef:
- While the lasagna noodles are cooking. In a large skillet on high heat add 1 pound of ground beef, ½ teaspoon of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.1 lb. of 80/20 ground beef, ½ tsp salt for ground beef, ¼ black pepper for ground beef, ½ tsp garlic powder for ground beef
- Cook until ground beef is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove ground beef to a bowl to cool.
Preparing the Cheese mixture:
- In a large bowl combine 2 pounds of Ricotta cheese, 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, and 3/4 cup of grated Romano cheese.2 lbs. of Ricotta cheese, 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup of grated Romano cheese
- Reserve 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of grated cheese for the top of the lasagna.
Building the Lasagna:
- In the bottom of a 9×13 baking pan or aluminum lasagna pan add 1 cup of marinara sauce and spread evenly.4 cups of marinara sauce
- Next, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the marinara sauce to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon in half of the cheese mixture and spread evenly. Then add in half of the ground beef and spread evenly. Next, you will complete this process again to complete a second layer.
- Add 1 cup of marinara sauce and spread evenly. Next, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the marinara sauce to completely cover the bottom of the pan. Next, spoon in the remaining cheese mixture and spread evenly. Then add in the remaining ground beef and spread evenly either with a spoon or your hand.
- To finish the lasagna, place enough lasagna noodles (about 6) on top of the cheese mixture. Next, add 1 cup of marinara sauce to the top of the lasagna and spread evenly. Then, sprinkle the 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of grated Romano cheese over the marinara sauce to finish off building the lasagna.
- Place lasagna into a 350 degree oven and cook for 45-60 minutes until the lasagna is heated throughout and the cheese on top has melted.
Invent Your Recipe
Nutrition
Invent Your Amazing Three Cheese Lasagna with Meat Recipe:
Three Cheese Lasagna with Ground Beef is such a great comfort food and reminds me of Sunday dinners growing up as a kid. Looking for food prep ideas? Lasagna is an efficient way to feed a large family or for hosting a party. For convenience, prepare the lasagna a day or two in advance or even the week before and freeze until you’re ready to cook it.
Cheese lasagna, vegetable lasagna, meat lasagna, and every combination in between. There are so many ways to make lasagna. Have fun with it, share your favorite lasagna combinations below in the comments!
I hope you enjoy this Three Cheese Lasagna with Ground Beef recipe. For more pasta dishes check out our pasta recipes page.
For even more ideas check out our Pinterest page.
