The Best Way to Layer Lasagna (Plus, Tasty Tips & Tricks)

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Assembling lasagna the traditional way and how to customize it
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Cheesy, saucy, and meaty? What’s not to love about lasagna? This indulgently comforting dish has been warming hearts and bellies for centuries. Its complex layers and flavor profile sure are tasty but can also seem daunting. Believe it or not, assembling a perfect, classically delicious lasagna isn’t as difficult as you may think! We’ve got everything you ever wanted to know about the order of a lasagna’s layers, so keep reading to learn how to make the best lasagna ever.
This article is based on an interview with our private chef and food educator, Ollie George Cigliano, owner of Ollie George Cooks. Check out the full interview here.

The Correct Lasagna Layer Order

  1. Sauce: Start by spreading a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of your baking dish.
  2. Noodles: Place your lasagna noodles on top without overlapping the edges.
  3. Sauce: Pour on another helping of sauce.
  4. Cheese: Spread a layer of ricotta and shredded cheese over the sauce.
  5. Repeat: Continue to repeat this process.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Preparation

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  1. Before you begin layering your lasagna, consider placing each of your ingredients in bowls. This way, they’ll be easier to grab when you assemble your dish. Clear off your workspace, and then separate your ingredients into individual bowls.
    • If you’re making a meat lasagna, make sure your meat is fully cooked . Minced beef, chicken, or pork can make excellent additions to your lasagna.
    • If you’re making a vegetarian lasagna, consider laying out sliced mushrooms, zucchini, or fresh spinach to add to your layers. [1]
  2. When it comes to lasagna, there are 2 types of noodles to choose from: no-boil or regular. Regular noodles must be cooked before assembling your lasagna, whereas no-boil noodles don’t. If you’re looking for a faster way to make lasagna, opt for no-boil noodles. [2]
    • Cook regular lasagna noodles following the instructions on the box.
    • No-boil noodles cook with your lasagna, so you may need extra sauce to fully saturate them.
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  3. The larger and wider your pan, the better. Lay an uncooked noodle over the pan you’d like to use. If you can fit 2 or more noodles next to each other in the pan, it’s perfect. If the noodles overlap, consider switching to a different pan, as overlapping noodles could create a gummy texture. [3]
    • Keep in mind that a deep dish requires a longer cooking time, especially when compared to a shallow dish.
    • Use a glass dish to help your lasagna cook more evenly, as glass distributes and traps heat better than metal pans, which can quickly lose heat. [4]
  4. Cook regular lasagna noodles and let them cool. If you’re using no-boil noodles, skip this step; otherwise, follow the instructions on the back of your noodle packet to boil your noodles. Once fully cooked, pull the noodles out of the pot, drain them, and lay them out to cool.
    • Run cold water over the steaming noodles to speed up the cooling process.
    • Drizzle olive oil between each cooked noodle so they don’t stick together. [5]
    • Consider cutting the cooked and cooled noodles with a kitchen scissor or sharp knife to fit your baking dish better.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Traditionally, lasagna gets its ooey-gooey cheesy goodness from a mixture of ricotta cheese and eggs. Add a container of ricotta cheese into a bowl and crack in 1 egg. This gives your cheese filling a fluffy texture while providing extra flavor. [6]
    • Try adding other seasonings to your cheese mixture, like salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, or nutmeg.
    • It’s better to make too much ricotta cheese than not enough! If you have leftover cheese filling after assembling your lasagna, consider using it to make baked spaghetti or ziti dish.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Assembling Your Lasagna

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Believe it or not, your lasagna's first layer contains no noodles. Use a spoon to scoop your desired sauce into the baking dish. Spread it evenly along the bottom. This will keep your noodles from sticking. [7]
    • Try to distribute the meat chunks of your sauce evenly, but don’t fret too much if it isn’t perfect.
  2. Now it’s time to start assembling. Drape noodles over the sauce one at a time, as close to the edge of the pan as possible. Leave a bit of space next to each noodle, as overlapping the noodles could create a tough or gummy texture.
    • Use as many noodles as it takes to cover the base of the pan.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Grab another spoonful of sauce and dump it in the middle of each noodle. The more sauce you add, the softer and juicier your lasagna will be—just remember to keep the layers thin so you can add multiple layers. [8]
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Plop a dollop of your ricotta cheese mixture over the sauce and spread it out. Then, drizzle a shredded cheese of your choice on top of the sauce. Keep sprinkling cheese until the previous sauce layer is completely covered. [9]
    • Use shredded mozzarella, Italian, Parmigiano, Reggiano, or parmesan cheese, or go wild and try a mixture of them all.
    • Make your lasagna extra cheesy by adding slices of mozzarella or extra dollops of ricotta on top of the shredded cheese. [10]
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Pour another layer of your sauce over the cheese layer until it’s covered. Create an even layer (just like before); otherwise, your lasagna may become too runny.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Repeat the layering process until you’ve reached the top of your baking dish. The number of layers your lasagna has depends on the amount of filling you use and the depth of your dish. [11]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Layer Lasagna
    Once your pan is completely layered, finish the lasagna with a final layer of noodles and cheese. Think of this as the lasagna’s lid. Use the same number of noodles you used in the base layers, and then sprinkle the rest of your cheese on top. [13]
    • Finishing with a cheese layer gives your lasagna that perfectly golden and bubbly cheese-pulling top.
    • Try sprinkling sweet paprika, parsley, or oregano over the cheese before baking for added flavor and garnish. [14]
    • If you’re using no-boil noodles, consider adding another thin layer of sauce over the top noodles before sprinkling on the cheese to help the noodles cook.
  8. The beautiful thing about lasagna is that it can be cooked and enjoyed whenever! Pop your lasagna in the oven for about 1 hour to enjoy the day you assembled it, or cover the dish with aluminum foil to store in the freezer for 3 months or in the fridge for up to 3 days. [15]
    • Check the back of your lasagna noodle box for what temperature and how long to bake your lasagna for. [16]
    • Make sure to defrost a frozen lasagna completely before baking; otherwise, it may need to cook longer.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Recipe Variations

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  1. Bolognese or red meat sauce is the traditional and most popular sauce used to make lasagna; however, that doesn’t mean it’s the only sauce you can use. Spice up your lasagna dish by using a red veggie sauce or cheesy white sauce. Who knows? You may discover something delicious!
    • Make an alfredo sauce to pair with shredded chicken for a cozy and comforting white sauce lasagna. [17]
  2. For an interesting and innovative twist, swap out ricotta cheese for cottage cheese or shredded mozzarella with shredded colby jack or slice provolone. Use whatever you have in the fridge to create a mix-and-match lasagna. After all, you can’t go wrong with cheese.
  3. Craving lasagna but don’t have lasagna noodles? Well, try this innovative and utterly delicious hack! Raviolis are already flat and packed with cheesy goodness, so what could go wrong? Simply swap the traditional noodles with frozen ravioli while layering. [18]
    • Like no-boil lasagna noodles, the ravioli doesn’t need to be cooked first—just layer the frozen pasta into the pan.
    • Try using ravioli stuffed with mushrooms, meat, or veggies for extra flavor.
  4. . This low-carb, gluten-free option will please any veggie lover. Instead of layering your lasagna with noodles, thinly slice a zucchini with a mandoline to mimic noodles. Crisp them up in the oven or air fryer before assembling or layering them with sauce raw. [19]
  5. If you’re craving a bit of salty ocean flavor, try this clever hack! Instead of beef, chicken, or pork, toss chunks of crab, shrimp, or lobster in your sauce. This is a great way to enjoy your favorite seafood with a classic Italian dish. [20]
    • Opt for a creamy white sauce instead of a red sauce if you try this hack, as red sauces can easily overpower seafood flavors.
  6. Lasagnas are a great way to empty the fridge. Have leftover chicken or steak from a previous dinner? Chop it up and toss it in between noodles. Need to use an onion, pepper, or tomato? Dice them up and sprinkle them over a layer of sauce. Think of what you like in regular pasta dishes, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
    • Keep in mind that adding more ingredients to your lasagna layers may increase the cooking time.
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  • Question
    What temperature should I bake lasagna?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    Bake your lasagna at 375 degrees F, or follow the instructions on the back of your noodle packet.
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    How many noodles do I need for 17 people?
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    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
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    If you're feeding a larger crowd, opt for a bigger pan and purchase more noodles than you think are necessary. It's always better to have extras than not enough! Remember, you want to have enough noodles to cover the filling with each layer, no matter the size of your dish.
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    Should I have adult watching me?
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    Yes, especially if you are younger than 12 and are operating an oven or using sharp tools.
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      • There’s no “right” way to layer lasagna! If you follow the basic structure and make sure the noodles are covered in sauce, you’re good to go.
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      • When using no-boil noodles, use slightly more sauce as they absorb more moisture.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about layering a lasagna, check out our in-depth interview with Ollie George Cigliano .

      References

      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/i0JIGNDh7n4?t=324
      2. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/glass-vs-metal-bakeware-is-there-a-difference-food-science-217961
      4. ↑ https://www.universetoday.com/82331/what-is-conduction/
      5. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/UiRg86Uc7J4?t=453
      7. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.
      8. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.
      9. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.
      1. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      2. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.
      3. ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/fVDsTP-pTXs?t=146
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/0ge3VV-HTTA?t=511
      6. ↑ https://www.fromvalerieskitchen.com/2013/09/homemade-frozen-lasagna/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/0ge3VV-HTTA?t=538
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/r76pzIX6KmI?t=1
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/i2xt2BFM2v0?t=11
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/6cs0mfkpDSI?t=77
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/6AU9szyc91Q?t=100

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To layer lasagna, start by pouring a little bit of sauce into the baking dish, which will prevent the bottom of the lasagna from drying out. Then, cover the bottom of the dish with a layer of noodles. Next, add one-third of your lasagna filling to the dish and spread it out over the first layer of noodles. Once you've added the filling, make a thin layer of cheese over it. Then, add some more sauce and repeat the process until you've added all of your filling. Top the lasagna off with a layer of noodles and a little bit of cheese on top. If you want to learn more, like what kinds of sauce to use inside your lasagna, keep reading the article!

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