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A festive slice of Christmas Eve Lasagna layered with rich meat sauce, melted cheese, and herbs, served on a plate beside golden utensils.

Christmas Eve Lasagna


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  • Author: Aneta
  • Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x

Description

This Christmas Eve Lasagna is the ultimate holiday comfort food — rich layers of homemade bolognese, creamy basil pesto ricotta, and golden melted cheese baked to perfection. It’s make-ahead friendly and guaranteed to be the star of your festive dinner table!


Ingredients

Scale

For the Lasagna:

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • 1 (13.2-ounce) box DeLallo No-Boil Lasagna

  • Sauce Bolognese

  • Basil Pesto Ricotta

  • 24 ounces shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella (about 6 cups)

  • 12 ounces Italian cheese blend (about 3 cups)

For the Best-Ever Bolognese Sauce:

  • 2 large carrots, roughly chopped

  • 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped

  • 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped

  • 4 ounces pancetta, roughly chopped

  • 6 cloves garlic

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 pound ground pork

  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

  • 1 cup medium-bodied red wine (like Chianti)

  • 34 sprigs fresh rosemary

  • 1012 sprigs fresh thyme

  • 2 bay leaves

  • Optional: 1 parmesan rind

  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water

  • ½ cup heavy cream

  • ½ cup grated parmesan

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

For the Basil Pesto Ricotta:

  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese (whole milk or part-skim)

  • 1 (6.3-ounce) jar DeLallo Simply Basil Pesto

  • 2 large eggs

  • ½ cup grated parmesan

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste


Instructions

  1. Make the Bolognese:

    • Pulse carrots, celery, and onion in a food processor into fine pieces (not puréed). Set aside.

    • Pulse pancetta and garlic in the same processor bowl.

    • In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and cook pancetta mixture 4–5 minutes until fragrant.

    • Add veggies with salt and cook until deeply browned, 15–20 minutes.

    • Season beef and pork with salt, then brown in the pot 2–3 minutes per side. Break up meat and stir together.

    • Stir in tomato paste; cook 2–3 minutes. Deglaze with red wine.

    • Add herbs, bay leaves, parmesan rind (if using), tomatoes, and broth.

    • Simmer gently 90 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream and parmesan; season to taste.

  2. Make the Basil Pesto Ricotta:

    • Combine ricotta, pesto, eggs, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until creamy.

  3. Assemble the Lasagna:

    • Spray a 9×13-inch pan and a sheet of foil with nonstick spray.

    • Spread 1 cup of bolognese on the bottom of the pan.

    • Layer noodles, half the remaining bolognese, and ¼ of the cheese.

    • Add another layer of noodles, half the ricotta, and more cheese.

    • Repeat two more times for four layers total, finishing with cheese on top.

    • Cover with foil and refrigerate at least 12 hours before baking.

  4. Bake:

    • Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake 60 minutes, removing foil for the last 10 minutes.

    • Optional: broil 3–5 minutes for a golden, bubbly top.

  5. Serve:

    • Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs and parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • Make-ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking.

  • Freezer-friendly: Freeze unbaked lasagna up to 3 months; thaw overnight before baking.

  • Substitutions: Bacon can replace pancetta; turkey or chicken can replace beef/pork for a lighter version.

  • Tip: Letting it rest after baking helps the layers set perfectly for picture-perfect slices.

  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Main course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/12 of pan)
  • Calories: 580 kcal
  • Sugar: 7 g
  • Sodium: 960 mg
  • Fat: 32 g
  • Saturated Fat: 16 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 38 g
  • Cholesterol: 130 mg