Go Back
+ servings
Close-up of a hearty serving of Spicy Sausage and Ricotta Lasagna with melted mozzarella and rich tomato sauce.

Spicy Sausage and Ricotta Lasagna

This recipe provides a hearty, comforting lasagna featuring spicy Italian sausage and creamy ricotta cheese. It is designed for home cooks looking for a flavorful, satisfying meal that is accessible to make.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Resting Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 468

Ingredients
  

Main Components
  • 1 box lasagna noodles boil or oven ready
  • 8 cups tomato sauce see notes for quantity adjustment
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 4 cups mozzarella cheese
  • 2 link spicy Italian sausage or 1/2 pound of bulk sausage
  • 2 link sweet Italian sausage or 1/2 pound of bulk sausage
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil chopped
Ricotta Filling
  • 2/3 cup fresh parmesan cheese shredded
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh oregano chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt each
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper each
  • 1 egg

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Pan
  • Small mixing bowl
  • 13x9 baking dish

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
  2. Cook the lasagna noodles: if you use boiled noodles, heat a large pot of salted water with a drop of olive oil. Cook the pasta as the package directs until al dente. Stir the noodles when adding them to the water. Drain the noodles when finished, then place them back in the pot and cover them with cold water.
  3. Cook sausage: in a pan, cook the sausage. Remove the sausage from the skin and break it up into pieces. You do not need oil to cook the sausage because it creates its own oils. Cook the sausage until fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  4. Mix the ricotta filling: in a small mixing bowl, mix together ricotta, parmesan, garlic, fresh basil and oregano, salt and pepper, and the egg.
  5. Layer lasagna: In a large 13x9 baking dish, layer 1 1/2 cups sauce, lasagna noodles (dab them dry of any excess water), ricotta filling (use 2 Tablespoon size scoops in the center of each noodle), cooked sausage, mozzarella cheese, and fresh chopped basil. Repeat this layering process until you use up the ingredients. Finish the final layer with sauce, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese.
  6. Bake: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Broil for the last 30 to 60 seconds to brown the top. Serve with fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcalCarbohydrates: 41.3gProtein: 37.1gFat: 17.4gSaturated Fat: 8.1gCholesterol: 79.1mgSodium: 725.8mgFiber: 7.6gSugar: 10.4gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 21mgIron: 18mg

Notes

You can save time by using oven-ready noodles instead of traditional boiled lasagna noodles. Just layer the oven-ready noodles, and they will soften and bake in the oven. You can use regular or whole wheat noodles; whole wheat noodles work well.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!