Description
A rich and festive Christmas Eve Lasagna layered with savory meat sauce, creamy pesto ricotta, and melted cheese — perfect for make-ahead holiday dinners.
Ingredients
1 pound lasagna noodles, preferably fresh
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1½ pounds ground beef (85/15)
1½ pounds Italian sausage, casings removed
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1½ teaspoons kosher salt
1½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1½ teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes
1½ cups whole milk
15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese
½ cup basil pesto
1 large egg
1 pound shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
1½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook lasagna noodles until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat and sauté onions until soft.
3. Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
4. Add ground beef and sausage, breaking apart, and cook until browned.
5. Stir in tomato paste, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
6. Crush the tomatoes by hand and add them with their juices. Simmer 25–30 minutes until thickened.
7. Stir in milk and remove from heat.
8. In a bowl, combine ricotta, pesto, and egg until smooth.
9. Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch dish.
10. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Repeat until full, finishing with sauce and cheese.
11. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 20–25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
12. Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Lasagna can be assembled up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated unbaked.
Let sit at room temperature 30–60 minutes before baking.
To freeze, wrap tightly and store up to 3 months.
Bake from frozen at 375°F, covered for 60 minutes, then uncovered 20–25 minutes.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Christmas Dinner Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1150mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 125mg