Go Back
Freshly baked Italian Lasagna with golden melted cheese and visible layered pasta, sauce and béchamel in a white baking dish.
foodbycuisine

Authentic Italian Lasagna Recipe Made Easy

This Italian Lasagna brings together rich meat sauce, silky béchamel, tender pasta sheets, and perfectly melted cheese. A comforting, classic Italian dish that delivers deep flavor and beautiful layered texture every time
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 55 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Meat Sauce
  • 0.5 | cup | Onion | Finely chopped
  • 3 | cloves | Garlic | Minced
  • 0.5 | lb | Ground Beef |
  • 0.5 | lb | Ground Pork |
  • 1 | tbsp | Olive Oil |
  • 2 | cups | Crushed Tomatoes |
  • 2 | tbsp | Tomato Paste |
  • 0.5 | cup | Water |
  • 1 | tsp | Salt |
  • 0.5 | tsp | Black Pepper |
  • 1 | tsp | Oregano |
  • 1 | tsp | Basil |
  • 0.5 | tsp | Chili Flakes | Optional
  • Béchamel Sauce
  • 4 | tbsp | Butter |
  • 4 | tbsp | Flour |
  • 3 | cups | Milk | Warm
  • 0.25 | tsp | Nutmeg |
  • 0.5 | tsp | Salt |
  • Lasagna Assembly
  • 9 | sheets | Lasagna Pasta | Precooked or oven ready
  • 3 | cups | Mozzarella Cheese | Shredded
  • 1 | cup | Parmesan Cheese | Freshly grated
  • 0.25 | cup | Parsley | Chopped for garnish

Method
 

  1. Prepare the Meat Sauce
  2. Heat olive oil in a pot. Add onion and sauté until soft. Add garlic and cook briefly. Add ground beef and pork. Cook until browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and water. Simmer for 25 minutes.
  3. Make the Béchamel Sauce
  4. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add flour and whisk to form a roux. Slowly add warm milk while whisking continuously. Cook until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and nutmeg.
  5. Prepare the Pasta Sheets
  6. Cook pasta sheets for 5 minutes until slightly softened. Lay them on a towel to dry.
  7. Layer the Lasagna
  8. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a baking dish. Add pasta sheets. Add béchamel, meat sauce, and cheeses. Repeat layers until ingredients are finished.
  9. Bake the Lasagna
  10. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 40 to 45 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
  11. Rest and Serve
  12. Let the lasagna rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with parsley.

Notes

This lasagna can be made one day ahead. The flavors deepen, and slicing becomes easier. Leftovers store well for up to three days and freeze beautifully for longer storage.