Name: Mom's Lasagna with Sunday Meat Gravy
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 95 min
Yield: 10-12 Servings
Ingredients: 2 pounds ricotta cheese; 1 box (16 ounce) lasagna noodles, cooked al dente, drained but not rinsed; 4 garlic cloves, minced; 2 large eggs; ½ cup chopped Italian parsley; Salt and pepper, to taste; ½ recipe of Mom’s Sunday Meat Gravy; 1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded; 1½ cupsgrated pecorino Romano cheese

Mains

Mom's Lasagna with Sunday Meat Gravy

Author: Mary DiSomma

I grew up in a home where the kitchen was the heart of the household. Some of my most cherished memories are of cooking together with my mom, my aunts, and my grandmothers. For us, cooking was more than just preparing a meal—it was a ritual, a way to bond and share stories. Today, I’m thrilled to share a recipe that’s very close to my heart—my mom’s homemade lasagna.

Mom's Lasagna with Sunday Meat Gravy

This homemade lasagna recipe is just like mom used to make… because it’s my mom’s recipe! Try your hand at an Italian-American classic, with my family’s homemade Sunday gravy recipe included.

Yield: 10-12 Servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes 45 min
Cook Time: 50 minutes 50 min
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes 1 hr 35 min

Ingredients

2 pounds ricotta cheese
1 box (16 ounce) lasagna noodles, cooked al dente, drained but not rinsed
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 large eggs
½ cup chopped Italian parsley
Salt and pepper, to taste
½ recipe of Mom’s Sunday Meat Gravy
1 pound mozzarella cheese, shredded
1½ cupsgrated pecorino Romano cheese

Instructions

Place the ricotta cheese in a strainer over a bowl. Let it rest for 30 minutes while the excess liquid drains from the cheese. Discard the liquid.
While the ricotta is draining, cook the lasagna noodles al dente according to the box directions. After the water is drained from the noodles, you can lay them out on kitchen towels, making sure the noodles don’t touch, so they are ready when you assemble the lasagna.
Place the drained ricotta cheese, minced garlic, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Using a silicone spatula, mix to combine.
Spread a layer of the meat gravy on the bottom of the pan, then add a layer of lasagna noodles.
Using a tablespoon, place dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture over the lasagna noodles, placing one dollop about every 2 inches. Sprinkle ⅓ of the mozzarella and pecorino Romano cheese on top of this layer.
Add another layer of gravy over the top, top with noodles, and repeat step 5. Repeat this process one more time.
Add a final layer of noodles and just enough meat gravy to cover the noodles, making sure to get all the way to the corners. Nobody likes those crunchy noodle ends!
Sprinkle the remaining pecorino Romano evenly over the top of the lasagna. If you’d like, you can also add mozzarella for extra ooey-gooey cheesy goodness.
Cover the whole dish loosely with foil. Bake in a 350 °F preheated oven for 40 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes for a total baking time of 50 minutes. Let it rest 5 minutes before cutting into serving pieces. Mangiamo!

View Mary's Tips

Mom's Lasagna with Sunday Meat Gravy — Did you make this recipe?
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Ingredient Tips

My favorite tomatoes for lasagna (because they were my mom’s) are Dei Fratelli brand tomatoes. You may have to make a trip to your local Italian grocer to find these, but boy, is it worth it! If you can’t find these, San Marzano tomatoes are my second choice. Love San Marzano? Check out myEggplant Parmigiana Recipe with Homemade San Marzano Tomato Sauce, too.

Preparation + Preservation Tips

Add your Sunday gravy first, then top it with a layer of noodles. On top of the noodles, add your ricotta filling mixture, mozzarella cheeses, and pecorino Romano cheese. Add another layer of Sunday gravy and repeat. When you get close to the top of the pan, add a final layer of noodles and sauce, then sprinkle the whole thing generously with pecorino romano cheese. You can also sprinkle some shredded mozzarella on top if you love that gooey, crispy, cheesy layer on top. Yum!

Extra Tips

Take Your Time with the Sauce

The longer it simmers, the better it gets.

Fresh is Best

In true DiSomma style, we go all out with fresh, quality ingredients. It really does make a difference when you grate your own cheese right onto your freshly-plated dish.

Make it a Family Activity

Get your kiddos, friends, or loved ones to help you put your lasagna together. It’s a fun way to create memories!

Batch Cooking

I like to make a lot! What can I say? It freezes beautifully, so don’t be afraid to make extra.