Lasagne Recipe – Super Basic and Easy To Cook!

This lasagne recipe could possibly win the prize for the most basic lasagne recipe ever! But it is pretty easy to cook and my kids love it, so it is a stayer in our house.

The sauce is best when it has simmered for at least 15 minutes, but can be layered straight away on those nights when time is not plenty!  I make the meat sauce first, then the white sauce, then layer this very basic and easy lasagne.

Lasagne Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 500 grams minced beef
  • 425 gran tinned tomatoes
  • 500 mls pasta sauce
  • 3 tbsps tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 onion
  • 1/2 cup plain flour
  • 750 mls milk
  • 75 grams butter
  • 350 grams tasty cheese grated
  • 500 grams lasagne sheets

Meat Sauce Method:

1.  Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2.  Finely chop onion.

3.  Chop tomatoes in the tin, so that they are in small pieces.

4.  Heat oil in a large frying pan.

5.  Add onion and garlic and fry for 2 – 3  minutes.

6. Add mince, cook until brown. Breaking up as you cook it.

7.  Add tomatoes and tomato paste and blend well, until excess liquid is evaporated.

8.  Stir in pasta sauce, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 – 20 minutes.

White Sauce Method

1. Chop butter roughly and place in a microwave jug and add flour.

2. Cook for approx 45 seconds on high in microwave.

3. Stir vigorously to make a smooth paste.

4. Add milk, stir again and cook in microwave for 5 minutes.

5. Stir again, getting lumps out, particularly from the bottom.

6. Cook for approximately another 2 minutes.

7. Keep going like this until the mixture is smooth and thick.
lasagne recipe - white sauce

Layering Lasagne

1. Lightly spray lasagne dish with olive oil.

2. Lay lasagne sheets on bottom of dish.  Break bits up so entire bottom is covered.

3. In the pan divide the meat mixture into at least two portions (depending on size of dish).

4. Spread one half of the meat mixture over the lasagne sheets.

5. Sprinkle with a half of the tasty and mozzarella cheese on top of this.
lasagne recipe - layering

6. Add next layer of lasagne sheets and repeat until all sauce has been used.

7.  After the final layer of lasagne sheets, pour white sauce evenly over the top.

8. Cover with aluminium foil (arch foil over the top of some tooth picks).
lasagne recipe - before cooking

9. Bake for 40 minutes.

11. Take off foil, turn off oven and turn on grill.

11. Grill for 5 minutes or until golden on top.  Can burn quickly so keep an eye on it.

12. Take out of the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Lasagne Recipe - Super Basic and Easy To Cook!
 
Author::
Recipe type: pasta
Ingredients:
  • 500 grams minced beef
  • 425 grams tinned tomatoes
  • 500 mls pasta sauce
  • 3 tbsps tomato paste
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 onion
  • ½ cup plain flour
  • 750 mls milk
  • 75 grams butter
  • 350 grams tasty cheese grated
  • 500 grams lasagne sheets
Method:
Meat sauce
  1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
  2. Finely chop onion.
  3. Chop tomatoes in the tin, so that they are in small pieces.
  4. Heat oil in a large frying pan.
  5. Add onion and garlic and fry for 2 - 3 minutes.
  6. Add mince, cook until brown. Breaking up as you cook it.
  7. Add tomatoes and tomato paste and blend well, until excess liquid is evaporated.
  8. Stir in pasta sauce, bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes.
White sauce
  1. Chop butter roughly and place in a microwave jug and add flour.
  2. Cook for approx 45 seconds on high in microwave.
  3. Stir vigorously to make a smooth paste.
  4. Add milk, stir again and cook in microwave for 5 minutes.
  5. Stir again, getting lumps out, particularly from the bottom.
  6. Cook for approximately another 2 minutes.
  7. Keep going like this until the mixture is smooth and thick.
Layering lasagne
  1. Lightly spray lasagne dish with olive oil.
  2. Lay lasagne sheets on bottom of dish. Break bits up so entire bottom is covered.
  3. In the pan divide the meat mixture into at least two portions (depending on size of dish).
  4. Spread one half of the meat mixture over the lasagne sheets.
  5. Sprinkle with a half of the tasty and mozzarella cheese on top of this.
  6. Add next layer of lasagne sheets and repeat until all sauce has been used.
  7. After the final layer of lasagne sheets, pour white sauce evenly over the top.
  8. Cover with aluminium foil (arch foil over the top of some tooth picks).
  9. Bake for 40 minutes.
  10. Take off foil, turn off oven and turn on grill.
  11. Grill for 5 minutes or until golden on top. Can burn quickly so keep an eye on it.
  12. Take out of the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Our Family Menu Plan For This Week.

Baking: Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins

Monday: Slow Cooker Satay

Tuesday: Tomato and Basil Gnocchi

Wednesday: Left Overs

Thursday: Beef Stir Fry

Friday: Marinated Chicken Sticks With Salad

Saturday: Souvlaki

Sunday: Chicken Wings, Baked Potatoes and Steamed Corn

If you are looking for further recipe inspiration, check out my complete list of Family Friendly Recipes. All of these recipes are in the database of the Planning With Kids Free Menu Planner. You can use the menu planner to plan a week of meals for your family and then print out the associated shopping list.