Aunt Shannon’s Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna – A Traditional Lasagna Recipe

Aunt Shannon’s Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna features up to four different cheeses and is a hearty meal the entire family will enjoy. You can use ricotta cheese or cottage cheese (or a combination of both) to make the cheese mixture that holds this lasagna together as you dish it out.

This recipe also calls for classic noodles; the kind that you pre-boil before layering up the goodness of beef and cheese.  But don’t worry, this recipe is still simple!

Homemade Beef Lasagna Recipe

The other night, Kevin casually mentioned in a (cough, cough) subtle way that he was craving lasagna, garlic bread and a glass of white wine. He must have had a hankering for beef and cheese! Lasagna isn’t something on their normal menu rotation, so Barbara pulled out her handy dandy family cookbook. This is her favorite gift from her bridal shower 10 years ago. (Can we have a round of applause for 10 years?)

Kevin’s Aunt Shannon shared her recipe for Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna. It was a perfect choice to satisfy Kevin’s lasagna craving and for Barbara to use a pound of ground beef – a great protein choice the entire family will eat!

She pulled out a pound of Sumner Point Beef from the freezer. It cooks up really easy and usually doesn’t have a lot of grease to drain off before using. They sell several different boxes of freezer beef, including one with 15 pounds of ground beef. We also have some of their steak fajita packages still in the freezer that we are excited to try soon!

What to serve with lasagna?

Lasagna is such a hearty meal that the sides can be simple and light such as Simple Asparagus, Creamed Peas, Parmesan Zucchini Squares, Air Fryer Cauliflower or Italian Stir Fried Zucchini.

Why does lasagna need to eggs?

The eggs in the ricotta mixture acts as a binder to hold the layers together. Without the eggs, the lasagna would be a sloppy mess.

Lasagna with Ground Beef Ingredients

Olive Oil

Ground Beef

Onions

Garlic

Tomato Paste

Diced Tomatoes with Italian Seasonings

Lasagna Noodles

Large Eggs

Parmesan Cheese

Dried Parsley

Ricotta or Cottage Cheese

Mozzarella Cheese

Salt and Black Pepper

What type of cheese is best in lasagna?

We prefer a combination of cheeses. For the filling Ricotta or Cottage Cheese (or both) is best.   Mix in grated Parmesan cheese to the filling for extra flavor.  Mozzarella cheese is also needed to achieve the perfect melted cheese texture.

Barbara hasn’t had the best luck with lasagna over the years. Hers usually falls apart while trying to serve it. This version has an emphasis on the cheese, which binds it all together, so it holds up when serving.  Easy Peasy!

We also love how it makes a big 13 x 9-inch pan so Barbara can get two meals out of it for her smaller family, but it is also perfect for a larger family with bigger eaters.

How to Make Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna

Step by Step Instructions

1. In a large pot, cook and drain the lasagna noodles and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet, and add onion and sauté. Cook until soft and add garlic.
3. After 30 seconds, add ground beef and brown.
4. Add tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Stir and cook meat sauce for 2 minutes and set aside.
5. Mix together the remaining ingredients, except for mozzarella cheese.
6. Layer starting with lasagna noodles, followed by cheese mixture, mozzarella and meat mixture. Then repeat layers ending with meat mixture.
7. Bake in a preheated oven (375 degree F) and be sure to let rest for at least 15 minutes after you take it out of the oven.

Storage Instructions

Let leftovers cool. Transfer to an airtight container or cover tightly with foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.

See full recipe and ingredient list for traditional lasagna at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Recipe FAQs

• Use ricotta or cottage cheese or a combination of both!
• For the diced tomatoes, check the grocery store for an Italian-seasoned version or diced tomatoes with garlic and herbs.
• Do not drain the diced tomatoes!
• Be sure to allow this ground beef lasagna to set at room temperature for 15 minutes before cutting. This will ensure the lasagna stays together when cutting.
• Try our other versions of beef lasagna – Mexican Lasagna and Slow Cooker Bloody Mary Lasagna.
• Want a quicker option? Try our Creamy Lazy Lasagna in the Instant Pot (Electric Pressure Cooker).

Equipment

Check out a list of essential kitchen tools and pantry staples. Our favorite kitchen tool, a simple meat chopper, would be helpful for breaking the hamburger into chunks.

Ground Beef Pasta Recipes

Spaghetti Pie

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce

5 Ingredient Ground Beef Casserole

Noodle Beef Bake

More Lasagna Recipes

• Mexica Lasagna
• Crock Pot Lasagna
• Lazy Lasagna

Print Recipe

Aunt Shannon’s Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna

Aunt Shannon’s Extra Cheesy Beef Lasagna features up to four different cheeses and is a hearty meal the entire family will enjoy. 

Prep Time20 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: cheesy beef lasagna, ground beef lasanga

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 652kcal

Author: Barbara

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup onions diced
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 12 ounces tomato paste
• 14.5 ounces diced garlic, basil tomatoes
• 3 cups ricotta cheese or cottage cheese your choice, a mixture works great too
• 2 eggs
• 2 Tablespoons dried parsley
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 8 lasagna noodles cooked until tender (do not overcook)
• 16 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• Heat olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat; add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, approximately 30 seconds to a minute. Do not brown garlic.
• Add ground beef and brown.
• Once browned, add tomato paste and diced tomatoes (undrained). Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside
  
• In a separate bowl, mix ricotta/cottage cheese, eggs, parsley, grated cheese, salt and pepper.
  
• Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Layer in order: 1/2 lasagna noodles, 1/2 cheese mixture, 1/2 shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 meat/tomato mixture. Repeat with remaining ingredients, ending with the meat mixture.
  
• Bake at 375 degrees  F for 45 minutes. Let set for 15 minutes before serving, (this step is crucial if you don’t want your lasagna to fall apart when serving).
  

Notes

• Use ricotta or cottage cheese or a combination of both!
• For the diced tomatoes, check the grocery store for an Italian-seasoned version or diced tomatoes with garlic and herbs. 
• Do not drain the diced tomatoes!
• Be sure to allow this ground beef lasagna to set at room temperature for 15 minutes before cutting. This will ensure the lasagna stays together when cutting. 
• Be sure to try our Baked Spaghetti Pie too!

Nutrition

Calories: 652kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Cholesterol: 157mg | Sodium: 1415mg | Potassium: 958mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1513IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 892mg | Iron: 4mg

Linking up to Weekend Potluck #354.

Sumner Point Beef provided a box of their beef for us to try. All opinions in this post are our own, as always!

Why is my lasagna always soupy?

Your lasagna may be soupy due to excessive moisture from the ricotta or cottage cheese, or from not allowing the lasagna to rest after baking. To prevent this, try draining excess liquid from the cheese mixture and ensure you let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.