There are few foods more comforting than lasagna! Admittedly, I spent a lot of my life not really trying to make a killer lasagna because it is just so easy to pick one up in the freezer section at the grocery store, but this one really does blow store bought out of the water. You’ve got a sauce packed with savory flavor, enough cheese to satisfy even the most demanding of palates, beautiful crispy edges and a bubbly golden top.
This recipe doesn’t call for any specific tomato sauce or variety of pasta, because I know people have favorites and I wanted this to be just as reasonable for a weeknight as it is for a cozy Sunday dinner. Feel free to use your preferred jarred red sauce or make it from scratch, and boiled noodles will be just as delicious as the oven ready!
Happy cooking!
Ultimate Meat Lasagna with Béschamel Sauce
DifficultyMedium
Servings6-8
Prep time1 hour30 minutes
Cook time45 minutes
Total time2 hours45 minutes
This rich, flavorful recipe combines layers of savory meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and perfectly melted cheese for the ultimate comfort meal. This lasagna is easy to make and incredibly delicious.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 large onion, diced
- 3 carrots, diced
- 3 celery stalks, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound italian sausage
- 2 jars (about 48 oz) your favorite tomato sauce
- 1 bay leaf
Béschamel Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 pinch nutmeg (optional)
Lasagna
- 1 package lasagna noodles, prepared to package directions
- ⅔ cup parmesan cheese, grated
- ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese, grated
Instructions
Meat Sauce:
- 1
Once diced, add the onions, celery, and carrot to a large pot. Turn the heat to medium and add butter, stir regularly until onions become transparent.
- 2
Add in ground beef, sausage, and garlic and brown the meat until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- 3
Add your sauce of choice, a bay leaf, and any other seasonings your heart desires. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes.
Béschamel Sauce:
- 1
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle flour in slowly and stir for about three minutes until the roux deepens to a gold color.
- 2
Stir in the milk and mix continuously until thick, about 10 minutes. Then, turn off the heat and stir in the parmesan. Add nutmeg or other seasonings to your liking.
Lasagna:
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375° F.
- 2
In a 9×13 pan, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce and cover with lasagna noodles.
- 3
Then, spread another layer of meat sauce and top with a light sprinkle of parmesan and mozzarella. Add a layer of béschamel and top with more noodles. Repeat (noodles, meat sauce, béschamel) until your pan is full, ending with a layer of béschamel. Top with grated cheese.
- 4
Bake for 45 minutes and allow 30 minutes to cool before serving.
