Description
Christmas Eve Lasagna is the perfect holiday comfort dish. Layered with rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella, this classic lasagna will be the star of your Italian Christmas dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage for extra flavor)
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat. Add chopped onion and garlic, cooking until softened. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and let it simmer for 20–30 minutes.
- While the sauce simmers, cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Add a layer of lasagna noodles, followed by a layer of ricotta cheese mixture and mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers two more times, ending with a layer of meat sauce on top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses on top.
- Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 25 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Christmas Eve Lasagna, Holiday Lasagna, Italian Lasagna