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
For the Lasagna:
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Nonstick cooking spray
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1 (13.2-ounce) box DeLallo No-Boil Lasagna
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Sauce Bolognese
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Basil Pesto Ricotta
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24 ounces shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella (about 6 cups)
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12 ounces Italian cheese blend (about 3 cups)
For the Best-Ever Bolognese Sauce:
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2 large carrots, roughly chopped
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1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
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1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
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4 ounces pancetta, roughly chopped
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6 cloves garlic
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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1 pound ground beef
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1 pound ground pork
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1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
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1 cup medium-bodied red wine (like Chianti)
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3–4 sprigs fresh rosemary
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10–12 sprigs fresh thyme
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2 bay leaves
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Optional: 1 parmesan rind
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1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
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2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
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½ cup heavy cream
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½ cup grated parmesan
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Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
For the Basil Pesto Ricotta:
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15 ounces ricotta cheese (whole milk or part-skim)
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1 (6.3-ounce) jar DeLallo Simply Basil Pesto
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2 large eggs
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½ cup grated parmesan
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Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
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Make the Bolognese:
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Pulse carrots, celery, and onion in a food processor into fine pieces (not puréed). Set aside.
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Pulse pancetta and garlic in the same processor bowl.
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In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat and cook pancetta mixture 4–5 minutes until fragrant.
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Add veggies with salt and cook until deeply browned, 15–20 minutes.
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Season beef and pork with salt, then brown in the pot 2–3 minutes per side. Break up meat and stir together.
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Stir in tomato paste; cook 2–3 minutes. Deglaze with red wine.
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Add herbs, bay leaves, parmesan rind (if using), tomatoes, and broth.
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Simmer gently 90 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream and parmesan; season to taste.
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Make the Basil Pesto Ricotta:
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Combine ricotta, pesto, eggs, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix until creamy.
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Assemble the Lasagna:
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Spray a 9×13-inch pan and a sheet of foil with nonstick spray.
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Spread 1 cup of bolognese on the bottom of the pan.
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Layer noodles, half the remaining bolognese, and ¼ of the cheese.
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Add another layer of noodles, half the ricotta, and more cheese.
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Repeat two more times for four layers total, finishing with cheese on top.
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Cover with foil and refrigerate at least 12 hours before baking.
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Bake:
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Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake 60 minutes, removing foil for the last 10 minutes.
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Optional: broil 3–5 minutes for a golden, bubbly top.
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Serve:
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Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with fresh herbs and parmesan if desired.
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Notes
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Make-ahead: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate before baking.
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Freezer-friendly: Freeze unbaked lasagna up to 3 months; thaw overnight before baking.
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Substitutions: Bacon can replace pancetta; turkey or chicken can replace beef/pork for a lighter version.
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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