This cozy, old-world lasagna disappeared fast in our house—and for good reason. The secret is the homemade Aunt Rosa–style sauce paired with a rich, creamy cheese layer made extra luscious with cream cheese and eggs. It’s classic, comforting, and perfect for feeding a hungry family.
Why You’ll Love This Lasagna
- Rich, homemade tomato sauce makes all the difference
- Creamy cottage cheese filling (no ricotta needed!)
- Spinach adds color and balance without overwhelming
- Oven-ready noodles keep things simple
- Feeds a crowd—and reheats beautifully
The Story Behind this Lasagna
I confess, I bought the ingredients to make this lasagna three months ago. I almost forgot about it! But today, as we prepped for an incoming winter storm, I found myself craving something warm. Something comforting. Something I could share with my grandkids, who live one neighborhood away.
And then I was reminded of my “Sunday Gravy” recipe (Aunt Rosa’s homemade meat sauce). My granddaughter Brooke loves that sauce. So, I decided to start this lasagna with a similar homemade sauce and then layer the lasagna in the usual fashion.
I did have one ulterior motive: to work in some spinach without the kids knowing. I pulled it off, and can I just say. . .they loved, loved, loved this recipe. You should have seen the text messages that came flooding though after I dropped it off at their house!
And, having tasted it, myself, I can attest to the fact that this one is Aunt Rosa worthy. Every good Italian grandmother has a favorite, and I’m pretty sure this would be hers!
(If you’re new here and wondering who Aunt Rosa is, she’s a key player in my Weddings by Bella series.)
Classic Lasagna Ingredients
You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post, as always. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand!
Homemade Meat Sauce (Aunt Rosa Inspired)
- 1 pound ground hamburger
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes
- 2 small cans tomato paste
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
Cheese & Spinach Layer
- 1 large container cottage cheese (larger size, not 8 oz)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup cream cheese (½ block), softened
- 1 cup chopped spinach (lightly wilted and squeezed dry)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Assembly
- Oven-ready lasagna noodles
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (for layers and topping)
How to Make Classic Lasagna
This one comes together so easily, friends! And trust me when I say that homemade sauce makes all the difference!
Make the Sauce
- In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the ground hamburger with the diced onion over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.
- Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and flavorful.
Prepare the Cheese Mixture
- In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, and softened cream cheese.
- Mash and stir until mostly smooth (a few small curds are fine).
- Fold in the chopped spinach. (This gives the cheese mixture a light green hue.)
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a greased baking dish.
- Add a layer of oven-ready noodles.
- Spread a layer of the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Spoon sauce over the cheese layer.
- Repeat layers until ingredients are used, finishing with sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella on top.
Bake
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove foil and place under the broiler for 2–3 minutes, just until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serve and Enjoy!
This is a delicious lasagna that’s going to get gobbled up in a hurry, I promise!
Tips from My Kitchen
- The cream cheese adds incredible richness without making the lasagna heavy
- Spinach blends right into the creamy layer—perfect for picky eaters
- Resting time is key for clean slices
- This recipe works beautifully with ground sausage or a beef/sausage blend too
Other Italian Favorites to Enjoy
If you love this delicious lasagna you’re sure to enjoy some of my other Italian favorites.
- Tuscan Roasted Chicken and Veggies: This is a simple (and personal) favorite: healthy and delicious.
- Easy Homemade Minestrone: Perfect for a cold winter’s day!
- Creamy Italian Pasta Salad: This one was a huge hit at a Mother’s Day event I catered!
- Italian Rosemary Potatoes: There’s simply no way to describe how delicious these potatoes are, friends!
That’s it for this Post!
Thanks for stopping by, friends. If you make this lasagna and enjoy it, please leave a comment and review. And before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?
Classic Lasagna with Homemade Meat Sauce
This cozy, old-world lasagna disappeared fast in our house—and for good reason. The secret is the homemade Aunt Rosa–style sauce paired with a rich, creamy cheese layer made extra luscious with cream cheese and eggs. It’s classic, comforting, and perfect for feeding a hungry family.
Ingredients
- Homemade Meat Sauce (Aunt Rosa Inspired)
- 1 pound ground hamburger
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans petite diced tomatoes
- 2 small cans tomato paste
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
- Cheese & Spinach Layer
- 1 large container cottage cheese (larger size, not 8 oz)
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup cream cheese (½ block), softened
- 1 cup chopped spinach (lightly wilted and squeezed dry)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Assembly
- Oven-ready lasagna noodles
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (for layers and topping)
Instructions
- Make the Sauce:
- In a large skillet or saucepan, brown the ground hamburger with the diced onion over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess grease.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.
- Season with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Simmer uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and flavorful.
Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, and softened cream cheese.
Mash and stir until mostly smooth (a few small curds are fine).
Fold in the chopped spinach. (This gives the cheese mixture a light green hue.)
Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Assemble and bake:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spread a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a greased baking dish.
Add a layer of oven-ready noodles.
Spread a layer of the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles.
Sprinkle with mozzarella.
Spoon sauce over the cheese layer.
Repeat layers until ingredients are used, finishing with sauce and a generous layer of mozzarella on top.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 45 minutes.
Remove foil and place under the broiler for 2–3 minutes, just until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Serve and Enjoy
Store in airtight container in refrigerator up to three days.
