Homemade Lasagna with Farm Fresh Ingredients
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ever have one of those days where you just crave something warm, hearty, and absolutely dripping with cheese? Same. And that’s exactly what happened when I decided to whip up a pan of homemade lasagna — farmhouse style.
This one’s extra special because I got nearly everything fresh from J&E Farmer’s Market, right down the road. Ella had put together the cutest little lasagna box already packed up — local ground beef, a candy onion (my first time ever cooking with one!), bell pepper, tomatoes, homemade sauce, noodles, and even homemade ricotta she had stashed in the fridge. (That’s why it’s not in my photo — but trust me, it found its way into this pan and it was AMAZING.)
It was pretty much a “here’s what I’ve got this week” kind of deal — sometimes it’s flats of veggies, sometimes a sweet meal box like this. Either way, it made dinner planning a total breeze.
Plus, not only was I able to support my local farmers, but I got to feed my family a fresh, homemade meal for our Sunday supper — and to me, that’s what it’s all about.
Fresh local beef, veggies, homemade pasta sauce, homemade ricotta, and everything you need for a cozy farmhouse dinner, all packed up and ready to go. Photo by Ella herself!
Why This homemade Lasagna Is Different
Sure, you can grab a frozen tray of lasagna from the grocery store, but trust me — it won’t come close to this.
Everything was fresh and loaded with flavor, from that sweet candy onion to the local beef added with the homemade sauce, was a flavorful combination no one could resist.
Plus, I mixed in my own homegrown herbs from our raised bed garden (you can read all about how I set that up here). It was like layering up love and local goodness, one noodle at a time.
Layer It Up
Once the sauce was ready and the noodles were cooked, I started layering it all up in my favorite pan (Biggest regret was not using a bigger pan to make more). Sauce, noodles, ricotta blend, repeat. Then I topped it off with a heavy hand of shaved parmesan — because why use that powdery stuff when you can have big cheesy curls melting into every nook?
Tips for the Best Homemade Lasagna
Let it rest at least 15 minutes before slicing. Trust me — it’ll hold together way better and won’t slide all over the plate.
Fresh herbs make all the difference. If you’ve never tried growing your own, it’s easier than you think and tastes worlds better.
And don’t skimp on the cheese. This is comfort food, not diet food. 😉
Get Your Ingredients from Local Markets
If you’re in Virginia, check out J&E Farmer’s Market — they’re family owned and truly care about bringing fresh, local produce, meats, dairy, pantry goods, and so much more to our little community. I love that I can grab everything I need for a hearty dinner like this homemade lasagna, and support local farmers at the same time.
Ella doesn’t always stock the same boxes — sometimes it might be a flat of veggies, other times a ready-to-go meal kit like this lasagna box with even the homemade ricotta included. That’s the best part about shopping local: it’s seasonal, it’s fun, and you never quite know what good stuff you’ll bring home.
Homemade Farmhouse Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef local if you can get it
- 1 candy onion or sweet onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1-2 fresh tomatoes diced
- 24 oz jar pasta sauce or your favorite
- 15 oz ricotta cheese homemade if you scored it!
- 9-12 lasagna noodles cooked
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup shaved parmesan
- 1-2 tbsp dried herbs basil, oregano, parsley
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with onion and bell pepper in a large skillet. Drain excess fat.
- Add diced tomatoes and jar of pasta sauce. Stir in dried herbs, salt & pepper. Let simmer about 15 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of the mozzarella, a pinch of herbs, salt & pepper. Stir until well combined.
- Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to box directions.
- Spread a little meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, sprinkle of mozzarella. Repeat layers, finishing with noodles and meat sauce.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and shaved parmesan.
- Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until hot and bubbly. Let rest at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
another Farmhouse Recipe to Try
👉 Shepherd’s Pie with Beef — another family favorite that’s always a hit with my youngest son Phillip (aka Sweet Tata).
If you give this homemade lasagna a try, drop me a comment below or tag me on Social Media. I’d love to see how yours turns out.
Pin It to your favorite recipe board
About the Host
Hey sweet friend — I’m Ashley, the heart behind SimplyBlessedDesignz and the voice of Unscripted Conversations.
I’m a faith-filled creative who believes in Jesus, Dollar Tree flips, and showing up even when life gets messy. Whether I’m podcasting, crafting, or cooking something from scratch, my prayer is always the same: that you leave here encouraged and reminded you’re never alone.
Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and let’s do this life—one grace-filled day at a time. 💛