Description
This Holiday Christmas Lasagna is a hearty and festive Italian-American dish perfect for family gatherings during the holiday season. Layers of tender lasagna noodles, rich ricotta cheese mixture, savory ground beef and sausage in marinara sauce, and gooey melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese come together in a comforting baked casserole. This recipe yields eight generous servings and features classic Italian flavors enhanced with Italian seasoning, offering a satisfying main course for your holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pasta
- 12 ounces lasagna noodles
Cheese Mixture
- 4 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
Cheeses for Layering
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the lasagna later.
- Cook Noodles: Boil the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain them thoroughly and set aside to cool.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage together until browned, breaking them apart as they cook. Drain any excess fat to avoid greasiness.
- Simmer Sauce: Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and black pepper to the skillet with the cooked meats. Stir to combine and let simmer for 10 minutes to develop flavors, then remove from heat.
- Mix Cheese Filling: In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and salt. Stir well until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
- Assemble Lasagna: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Layer lasagna noodles over the sauce, then spread a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture, followed by a generous layer of shredded mozzarella cheese and sprinkled Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Continue layering meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan until all ingredients are used, making sure to finish with a top layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for a golden crust.
- Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent the cheese from burning and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and Continue Baking: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes or until the cheese on top is bubbly and slightly browned.
- Rest: Allow the lasagna to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing to serve. This resting time helps the lasagna set for easier serving.
Notes
- For a quicker prep, use no-boil lasagna noodles to skip the boiling step.
- Drain excess fat from the meat to keep the dish from becoming greasy.
- Letting the lasagna rest after baking improves texture and ease of serving.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to the meat sauce for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
