Description
This fuss-free lasagne recipe offers a comforting and rich Italian classic made easier with no-cook lasagne sheets and a hearty homemade meat sauce layered with creamy white sauce. Perfect for preparing ahead, freezing, and enjoying a delicious, cheesy baked meal that’s sure to please the family.
Ingredients
Scale
Lasagne Components
- 18–20 no cook lasagne sheets
- 250g mozzarella, drained and grated
- 85g block parmesan, grated
Meat Sauce
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 onions, finely chopped
- 8 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
- 2 bay leaves
- 1kg minced beef
- 4 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
- 4 tbsp ketchup
- small glass red wine (optional)
White Sauce
- 200g butter
- 140g flour
- 1.7l milk
- few gratings nutmeg
- salt and pepper to season
Instructions
- Make the meat sauce: Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and gently cook the finely chopped onions for 10 minutes until golden. Add the crushed garlic, dried mixed herbs, and bay leaves; cook for an additional 2 minutes to release their flavors. Heat a large frying pan separately and crumble in a quarter of the minced beef, cooking until browned. Add the browned beef to the onions. Continue frying the remaining meat in batches, adding each batch to the onion mixture until all beef is cooked.
- Combine sauce ingredients: Stir in the chopped tomatoes and ketchup into the beef and onion mixture. Rinse the empty tomato cans with red wine or a little water and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Gently cook the sauce for 30 minutes until it thickens into a rich, saucy texture, then set aside.
- Make the white sauce: In a separate large pan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour to form a roux. Gradually pour in the milk while whisking continuously to avoid lumps. Season with salt, pepper, and a few gratings of nutmeg. Bring the sauce to a simmer and whisk for 5 minutes until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and cover with cling film if not using immediately.
- Assemble the lasagne: Divide ingredients to make two lasagnes. In an ovenproof baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce, drizzle with some white sauce, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Layer over with no-cook lasagne sheets, followed by more meat sauce, white sauce, mozzarella, and another layer of sheets. Repeat one more time. Finish with a top layer of white sauce and scatter grated Parmesan over the surface.
- Chill or freeze: The assembled lasagne can be chilled in the fridge for up to one day before baking or frozen for up to three months. For freezing, cover tightly with cling film and place flat. Thaw in the fridge a day before cooking for best results.
- Bake the lasagne: Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan)/gas mark 6. Cook the lasagne uncovered for 35-40 minutes until the top is golden brown and crisp around the edges. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving.
Notes
- Freezing tip for sauce: The meat sauce can be prepared and frozen separately in bags, ideal for spaghetti Bolognese, shepherd’s pie base, or baked potatoes.
- Freezing tip for whole lasagne: Cover tightly with cling film and freeze flat with nothing on top. Defrost overnight in the fridge before baking or bake from frozen at 160°C (140°C fan)/gas 3 for 2 hours covered with foil, then uncover and cook at 200°C (180°C fan)/gas 6 for 40 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Add vegetables for extra nutrition: When frying onions, add finely chopped carrot, celery, courgette, leek, sliced mushrooms, or chopped pepper. Wilted, chopped fresh spinach or scattered cherry tomatoes throughout layers also enhance flavor and nutrition.
- Let the lasagne rest after baking to settle the layers, making slicing easier and preventing it from falling apart.
- This recipe serves best with a simple green salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: easy lasagne, meat lasagne, classic lasagne, no-cook lasagne sheets, homemade lasagne sauce, lasagne recipe, Italian dinner, cheesy lasagne, freezer friendly meals
