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Festive Christmas Lasagna Bake

This Christmas lasagna bake layers rich meat sauce, creamy cheeses, and al dente noodles into a hearty casserole with a festive twist. The dish is assembled in a baking dish and baked until bubbling and golden, resulting in a comforting, layered final appearance with cheesy, saucy goodness. Perfect as a holiday centerpiece, it's both forgiving and crowd-pleasing.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Holiday
Servings 8
Calories 550 kcal

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Skillet or frying pan
  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Mixing bowls
  • Knife and cutting board

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz lasagna noodles cooked until al dente
  • 1 lb ground meat (beef or turkey) or use lentils for vegetarian
  • 15 oz tomato sauce bright and tangy
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese creamy and mild
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella melty and gooey
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese sharp and salty
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or fresh
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil or fresh
  • to taste salt and pepper for seasoning

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles until just al dente, about 8 minutes, then drain and set aside.
    Cook the lasagna noodles
  • While the noodles cook, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and minced garlic, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 3 minutes.
    Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat
  • Add ground meat to the skillet, cooking until browned and cooked through. Stir in tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 10 minutes, until thickened and flavorful.
    Pour in the tomato sauce
  • In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and a beaten egg. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, mixing until smooth and creamy.
    Stir in chopped sage and a pinch of nutmeg into the beef mixture
  • Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce at the bottom of the baking dish. Place a layer of noodles over the sauce, then spread a generous layer of the cheese mixture over the noodles.
  • Repeat the layers: meat sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, until all ingredients are used, finishing with a final layer of meat sauce topped with shredded mozzarella.
    Spread a thin layer of sauce
  • Cover the assembled lasagna with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese on top is golden and bubbling.
    Let the lasagna rest
  • Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, enjoying the layers of cheesy, saucy goodness with a festive touch.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, substitute lentils for ground meat and add extra vegetables if desired.