🧾 Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce:
1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half Italian sausage)
½ yellow onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pizza sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste (for extra richness)
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper to taste
For the Cheesy Layers:
9–12 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan
1 egg (for ricotta mix)
1½ cups sliced pepperoni
Optional: crushed red pepper flakes for spice🌿 Topping:
Extra mozzarella
More pepperoni
Chopped fresh parsley or basil🔥 Instructions
1. Prep the Sauce:
In a skillet, cook ground beef with onions until browned.Add garlic and cook another minute.Stir in marinara, tomato paste, and seasonings. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
2. Mix the Ricotta Layer:
In a bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, and egg. Mix until smooth. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
3. Cook the Noodles:
If not using oven-ready, boil lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and lay flat on parchment to prevent sticking.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
Layer in a greased 9×13” baking dish:
Thin layer of meat sauce
Lasagna noodles
Ricotta mixture
Mozzarella
Meat sauce
Pepperoni slices
Repeat layers, finishing with noodles, sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and Parmesan on top.
5. Bake:
Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30 minutes.
Uncover and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Broil for a few minutes for crispy cheese top (optional).
Rest for 15 minutes before slicing!
✨ Tips:
Want a smoky kick? Add smoked paprika or use spicy pepperoni.
Swap mozzarella for provolone or pizza cheese blend.
For extra pizza vibes, sprinkle oregano or crushed red pepper on top.