Quick Beef Lasagna

Step 1

Set the oven to 375°F and wait until the indicator light or beep signals it has finished heating, about 10 minutes.

Step 2

Fill a large pot three-quarters full with water and add a big pinch of salt, then bring to a rolling boil over high heat—you'll see large bubbles rapidly breaking the surface.

Step 3

Add the lasagna noodles to the boiling water and stir immediately with a wooden spoon to separate them, then cook for 2 minutes less than the package instructions say (noodles will finish cooking in the oven).

Step 4

Pour the noodles into a colander and let them drain, then lay them out flat on a clean kitchen towel so they don't stick together.

Step 5

Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until it is very hot and a drop of water sizzles immediately on contact, about 2 minutes.

Step 6

Add the ground beef to the hot skillet and break it into small crumbles with a wooden spoon as it cooks, stirring once every 20 seconds, until no pink remains and it looks browned all over, about 6 minutes.

Step 7

Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the cooked beef and stir until evenly mixed, then remove from heat.

Step 8

Spread one-third of the beef–sauce mixture (about 2/3 cup) across the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish in an even layer.

Step 9

Lay noodles flat on top of the sauce, overlapping them slightly to cover the surface—you should fit about 4–5 noodles per layer.

Step 10

Drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese (about 1/3 of the 15-ounce container) across the noodles, then use the spoon to spread it into a thin, even layer.

Step 11

Sprinkle one-third of the shredded mozzarella (about 2/3 cup) evenly over the ricotta layer.

Step 12

Repeat the layers—beef sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella—two more times, ending with mozzarella on top.

Step 13

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil, then place it in the preheated oven.

Step 14

Bake covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and bake uncovered for 10 more minutes until the top is bubbling at the edges and the mozzarella looks lightly browned.

Step 15

Remove the baking dish from the oven and let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes so the cheese sets slightly—this makes it easier to cut and serve.