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Lasagna for Two Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 103 reviews

This Lasagna for Two recipe is a perfect, hearty Italian meal designed for a smaller household. It features a rich meat and tomato sauce layered with creamy ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses using no-boil noodles. The dish is baked until bubbly and golden, making a comforting and satisfying dinner with just the right portions.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat Sauce

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can low-sodium diced tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped fine
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 8 ounces ground sirloin
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 (8-ounce) can low-sodium tomato sauce

Cheese Filling

  • 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus 2 tablespoons grated for topping
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper

Assembly

  • 4 no-boil lasagna noodles (such as Barilla)
  • 1 cup grated whole-milk mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and position a rack in the middle. This ensures even baking of the lasagna.
  2. Prepare Sauce Base: In a blender or food processor, puree the canned diced tomatoes until smooth, then set aside.
  3. Sauté Aromatics and Brown Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and a pinch of salt, cooking until tender. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ground sirloin and cook until browned completely.
  4. Finish Sauce: Stir in the heavy cream and cook until mostly evaporated, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add the pureed diced tomatoes and canned tomato sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer and let it cook gently while you prepare the cheese filling, approximately 15 minutes, allowing flavors to blend.
  5. Make Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, chopped fresh basil, egg, and pepper until smooth and well combined.
  6. Assemble Lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a loaf pan. Place one no-boil lasagna noodle on top. Spread one third of the ricotta mixture over the noodle, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup of grated mozzarella. Top with another 1/2 cup of meat sauce. Repeat layering two more times with noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce. Finally, lay the last noodle on top, cover it with the remaining sauce, mozzarella cheese, and the last 2 tablespoons of Parmesan.
  7. Cover and Bake: Spray a piece of foil with non-stick cooking spray and tightly cover the loaf pan to prevent moisture loss. Place the pan on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes until the sauce is bubbling around the edges.
  8. Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for about 10 more minutes until the cheese on top turns golden brown and bubbly.
  9. Cool and Serve: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for at least 20 minutes to allow it to set, which makes slicing easier and enhances flavor development. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Using no-boil noodles saves prep time and ensures the pasta layers cook perfectly while baking.
  • Allowing the lasagna to cool after baking helps it firm up and makes serving easier.
  • Low-sodium tomato products help control salt content in the dish.
  • Heavy cream added to the sauce enriches flavor and smoothness.
  • You can substitute ground sirloin with ground beef or turkey for variation.
  • Chopping fresh basil adds fresh herbaceous notes, but dried basil can be used as a substitute (reduce quantity).

Keywords: lasagna for two, easy lasagna recipe, no-boil noodles, Italian dinner for two, ground sirloin lasagna

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/lasagna-for-two-recipe/