The Perfect Mushroom Lasagna with Hearty, Meaty-Tomato Sauce

This Mushroom Lasagna recipe is super easy to make and features a delicious combination of mushroom and ground beef cooked in a tasty tomato-based sauce for a hearty, comforting dinner meal!

It's, seriously, the easiest and tastiest lasagna recipe you'll ever make and you only need some basic, pantry-staple ingredients to make it at home. What's also incredible about this dish is that you can make it ahead of time! 

The flavors in this dish are some that the entire family loves, and is an absolute crowd-pleaser every single time. Whether you're making this for your family on a weeknight, weekend, or even the holidays, it fits every occasion and is super easy to make!

Want to learn how to make this Mushroom Lasagna at home? Then keep on reading!

What is Mushroom Lasagna?

Mushroom Lasagna is a delicious dish that combines the flavors of mushrooms, a homemade sauce, cheese, and layers of lasagna noodles for the tastiest Italian-style dinner meal ever! 

The homemade sauce can be just about anything, and many recipes feature either a white béchamel sauce or a red tomato-based sauce but the latter is, unfortunately, rarer to come across!

It's the perfect dinner meal and is something that everyone in the family always loves and adores! I'm sure you're going to fall in love with this dish if you've never tried it before! 

What Makes This Mushroom Lasagna Recipe Special?

As I mentioned above, most mushroom lasagnas have a béchamel sauce which is made with flour and butter that's whisked and cooked on a low heat and you pour hot milk into it. It's the white sauce we usually come across. 

But that's a common variation, it's not unique and sometimes we crave that delicious red tomato-based sauce that's hearty, comforting, and so incredibly delicious!

That's exactly what this recipe features: a delicious tomato-based sauce used in this mushroom lasagna to make it the most comforting, and best dinner meal ever! It's then mixed with beef as well to make this a filling meal that's going to make everyone happy!

And what's best is that you can make this recipe ahead of time too! Lasagna is one of our family's favorite dishes to have on Sunday after church. Most of us have programmable cooking ovens in our kitchens that you can program when the oven should start and end the cooking time.

That's exactly what I do! I make Lasagna Saturday night and I refrigerated it. The next morning, before we go to church, I program the oven to start time and the cook time, by the time we get from church lasagna is fresh and hot out of the oven to enjoy. I hope it becomes your family favorite as well!

What Kind of Mushrooms Can I Use for Mushroom Lasagna?

I love this dish because it’s so versatile. You can make it with whatever type of mushrooms you like – I used white button mushrooms but you can also use shiitakes, portobellos, dried porcini mushrooms, or even wild mushrooms would be just as good. 

Mushroom lasagnas are a great way to use up leftover mushrooms. You can make them with any kind you have on hand, or a mix of your favorite ones so feel free to experiment with whichever one you like. All we have to make sure of is to cook the mushrooms until they turn tender. 

What You Need to Make Mushroom Lasagna at Home

All you need are some pantry-staple ingredients to make this dinner meal for your family tonight. Let's look at each of the ingredients in more detail:

• Beef: I like to use good quality meat, preferably purchased from a local butcher. Or I only get this one at Costco. 

Mushroom: I prefer using organic mushrooms as they have an even better taste compared to regular ones. Since mushrooms contain over twelve different kinds of minerals and vitamins and my family loves mushrooms I make this lasagna recipe loaded with it, but you may cut it in half if you like. I have a separate section above mentioning all the different kinds of mushrooms you can use, so do check that out.
Cheese: We'll also need some cheese for our lasagna. I've used cottage cheese with a 2% fat consistency, but you may use any kind you like. Check out the variation section below for ideas on other cheeses you can use.
Mozzarella cheese: Another type of cheese we'll be using in this recipe is mozzarella cheese. It's stringy, mildly flavored, and absolutely delicious! I used 1.5 pounds of cheese for the recipe, because we love lasagna to be cheesy, but you may reduce it to a pound.
Lasagna noodles: We'll also need some lasagna noodles to make this delicious dish. You can use any brand of pasta you like the most. I've used Barilla here. 

Tomato Sauce and Paste: We'll also need some tomato sauce and tomato paste to make that delicious tomato-based sauce. If you purchase it in bulk at Costco it comes out to be very affordable in the long run.
Olive Oil: We'll use a little olive oil to saute our mushrooms and cook everything perfectly. It works great for this recipe! 
Seasonings: You'll also need some salt and black pepper to season everything to the right level and to bring out all the flavors. 
Mrs. Dash seasoning: This is a great seasoning mix because it's a perfect mix of onion powder, marjoram, oregano, thyme, cayenne pepper, lemon juice powder, etc. I highly recommend not skipping this one, and it's a great mix that I use in many other recipes like my Instant Pot Beef Stew and Instant Pot Split Pea Soup.
Italian seasonings: This seasoning includes dried basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, and marjoram that add a delicious aroma and flavor to the sauce, making it smell and taste comforting and absolutely incredible. It truly adds the perfect 'Italian' touch to the dish!
Garlic salt: Garlic salt is a combination of ground garlic and salt, so it adds a delicious garlic flavor that will elevate the dish to the next level. We'll use a teaspoon of it in this recipe.

How to Make Mushroom Lasagna (Step-by-Step)

Even if you've never made lasagna before, this recipe is still going to be super simple for you to try! Here's exactly what you need to do step by step to make it at home:

How to Prep the Meat 

Let's start by prepping the meat! I never purchase ground meat of any kind, but make it my own, see how HERE. I prefer soaking and rinsing the meat especially if purchased from the store because it most likely was covered with red dye.

First, I soak the meat in the water for an hour, rinsing and changing the water about 4 times during the soaking. In case you prefer to not soak the meat, you can skip this step.

How to Prep the Mushrooms 

Next, let's prep our mushrooms for this mushroom lasagna! Separate the mushroom stems from the caps and then discard the stems. This isn't always necessary, but definitely do it for shiitake mushrooms.

Then peel and rinse the mushrooms and place them into a strainer. Let the water drip off. This is how I prefer cleaning my mushrooms but you can also choose to skip this step as well if you don't want to rinse them. 

Slice the mushrooms ¼-inch thick and set them aside.

How to Cook Mushrooms and Beef for Mushroom Lasagna

Time to cook our mushrooms and beef! Heat a large saucepan on medium-high heat, and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil.

Place ground beef onto the hot skillet, and brown the meat. Avoid mixing the meat until it starts to sizzle otherwise, the meat turns into a mush.

As soon as the meat reaches the sizzling stage start mixing the meat. Then add mushrooms and continue sautéing until the water evaporates (once again after combining the meat with mushrooms do not mix the mixture until the water evaporates and meat and mushroom start sizzling, otherwise it will turn into mush).

As soon as the meat reaches the sizzling stage, stir the meat with a wooden spoon. Then add mushrooms and continue sautéing until the water evaporates.

Once again after combining the meat with mushrooms do not mix the mixture until the water evaporates and the meat and mushroom start sizzling otherwise it will turn into mush.

Sauté for about 5 minutes and then remove the mixture from the stove. Let it cool completely before assembling the lasagna.

While the meat mixture is cooling, boil the lasagna noodles in a large pot according to the instructions on the packaging. Also, shred the cheese and set it aside. 

How to Assemble Mushroom Lasagna

Layout 6 lasagna pasta strips into a rectangular porcelain dish. I prefer using porcelain, you may any baking dish of your choice. Add half portion of the meat with mushrooms and spread it out evenly.

Then spread out evenly half of the cottage cheese. Finally, spread out evenly half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat another layer using the same instructions and this will be the final layer of noodles. 

How to Bake Mushroom Lasagna

Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Cover a pan with a baking sheet. I prefer to cover with a baking sheet instead of aluminum foil because foil falls on top and gets stuck to the melted cheese.

Bake assembled lasagna on the middle oven rack in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese has melted.

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes before serving. Your delicious Mushroom Lasagna is ready to be served! 

Make Ahead Tip for Mushroom Lasagna

If you're making this ahead of time you need to cover the baking pan with plastic food wrap to prevent it from drying. You may also split this into two smaller ceramic dishes in case this portion is too much for your family size; bake one and freeze one for later!

Recipe Variation Ideas for Mushroom Lasagna

This mushroom lasagna recipe is to die for and you're seriously going to fall in love with it! But if you're looking to customize it according to your preference, here are a few fun ideas to try: 

Spinach: Spinach goes so well with mushrooms! So for a meatless option, you can use fresh spinach or even frozen spinach (just let it thaw beforehand). And then melt butter in a pan and saute the chopped spinach before adding it to the recipe!

Fresh pasta: Fresh pasta sheets make this lasagna taste even better! So you can also make your own homemade ones and use them in this recipe, it'll still work perfectly!

Cheese: You can use any combination of cheeses you like the most including parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, etc. 

Garnish: If you like fresh herbs, you can sprinkle some chopped fresh basil on the lasagna before serving it or even fresh parsley!

How to Store Leftover Mushroom Lasagna

This dish stores incredibly well, so if you have any leftovers just cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it in the freezer for up to 1 month!

Allow it to thaw overnight in the fridge because reheating it in the oven until the cheese melts and it's warm all the way through.

More Pasta Disher You'll Love

• Creamy Peas and Bacon Pasta
• Shrimp Alfredo Fettuccine Pasta
• Easy Cheesy Marinara Pasta
• Quick and Easy Spaghetti and Meatballs
• Tastiest Mushroom Lasagna (with Chicken and Bacon!)

Need more delicious DINNER recipes? Check them out HERE!

Recipe Card

The Perfect Mushroom Lasagna with Hearty, Meaty-Tomato Sauce

Valya's Taste of Home

This Mushroom Lasagna features a delicious combination of mushroom and ground beef cooked in a tasty tomato-based sauce for a hearty, comforting dinner meal!

4.69 from 19 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 12

Ingredients

  

.5x1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 lbs. – beef
• ▢ 2 lbs. - mushrooms
• ▢ 1.5 lbs. - mozzarella cheese
• ▢ 15 oz. – organic tomato sauce
• ▢ 6 oz. – organic tomato paste
• ▢ 1 tbsp. – organic Italian seasoning
• ▢ 1 tsp. - garlic salt
• ▢ ¼ tsp. - fine ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 tsp. – Mrs. Dash seasoning blend
• ▢ 16 oz. - cottage cheese
• ▢ 1 tbsp. - salt and 1 tsp. - for cooking pasta or to taste
• ▢ 12 strips - Lasagna pasta
• ▢ 3 tbsp. - extra light olive oil and 1 tbsp. for cooking pasta

Read More

Instructions

 

How to Make Mushroom Lasagna

• ▢
  Let's start by prepping the meat! I never purchase ground meat of any kind, but make it my own, see how HERE. I prefer soaking and rinsing the meat especially if purchased from the store because it most likely was covered with red dye.
• ▢
  First, I soak the meat in the water for an hour, rinsing and changing the water about 4 times during the soaking. In case you prefer to not soak the meat, you can skip this step.

How to Prep the Mushrooms

• ▢
  Next, let's prep our mushrooms for this mushroom lasagna! Separate the mushroom stems from the caps and then discard the stems. This isn't always necessary, but definitely do it for shiitake mushrooms.
• ▢
  Then peel and rinse the mushrooms and place them into a strainer. Let the water drip off. This is how I prefer cleaning my mushrooms but you can also choose to skip this step as well if you don't want to rinse them.
• ▢
  Slice the mushrooms ¼-inch thick and set them aside.

How to Cook Mushrooms and Beef for Mushroom Lasagna

• ▢
  Time to cook our mushrooms and beef! Heat a large saucepan on medium-high heat, and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
• ▢
  Place ground beef onto the hot skillet, and brown the meat. Avoid mixing the meat until it starts to sizzle otherwise, the meat turns into a mush.
• ▢
  As soon as the meat reaches the sizzling stage start mixing the meat. Then add mushrooms and continue sautéing until the water evaporates (once again after combining the meat with mushrooms do not mix the mixture until the water evaporates and meat and mushroom start sizzling, otherwise it will turn into mush).
• ▢
  As soon as the meat reaches the sizzling stage, stir the meat with a wooden spoon. Then add mushrooms and continue sautéing until the water evaporates.
• ▢
  Once again after combining the meat with mushrooms do not mix the mixture until the water evaporates and the meat and mushroom start sizzling otherwise it will turn into mush.
• ▢
  Sauté for about 5 minutes and then remove the mixture from the stove. Let it cool completely before assembling the lasagna.
• ▢
  While the meat mixture is cooling, boil the lasagna noodles in a large pot according to the instructions on the packaging. Also, shred the cheese and set it aside.

How to Assemble Mushroom Lasagna

• ▢
  Layout 6 lasagna pasta strips into a rectangular porcelain dish. I prefer using porcelain, you may any baking dish of your choice. Add half portion of the meat with mushrooms and spread it out evenly.
• ▢
  Then spread out evenly half of the cottage cheese. Finally, spread out evenly half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat another layer using the same instructions and this will be the final layer of noodles.

How to Bake Mushroom Lasagna

• ▢
  Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Cover a pan with a baking sheet. I prefer to cover with a baking sheet instead of aluminum foil because foil falls on top and gets stuck to the melted cheese.
• ▢
  Bake assembled lasagna on the middle oven rack in a preheated oven for 50 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the cheese has melted.
• ▢
  Remove from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes before serving. Your delicious Mushroom Lasagna is ready to be served!

Notes

If you’re making this ahead of time you need to cover a pan with plastic food wrap to prevent from drying. You may also split this into two smaller ceramic dishes (if this portion is too big for your family), bake one and freeze one for later.

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This recipe was originally posted on 07-14-2014 and has been updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.