Description
This Christmas Eve Lasagna is the ultimate holiday comfort food—layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and tender pasta baked until golden and bubbling. It is a perfect easy recipe for a festive family dinner, a cozy winter meal, or a make-ahead holiday main dish. If you need hearty dinner ideas, comforting food ideas, and a classic baked pasta everyone loves, this Christmas Eve Lasagna delivers every time.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1/2 pound Italian sausage
1 medium onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1 large egg
3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped
12 lasagna noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, then stir in the garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until browned, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
3. Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
4. In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese until smooth.
5. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
7. Add a layer of lasagna noodles, then spread some ricotta mixture over the noodles, add mozzarella cheese, and spoon over more meat sauce.
8. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with meat sauce on top and the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
9. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
10. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and lightly golden.
11. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Let the lasagna rest before slicing so the layers hold together better and serve more cleanly.
If you use oven-ready noodles, make sure the sauce is not too thick so the pasta softens properly while baking.
For the best flavor, make the meat sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight before assembling the lasagna.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 860mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg