If you’re searching for the ultimate show-stopping dish to grace your holiday table, look no further than this Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe. It brings together tender layers of no-boil pasta, a rich and fragrant slow-simmered Bolognese, luscious basil pesto ricotta, and a melty mountain of Italian cheeses all baked to bubbly perfection. This lasagna isn’t just a dish, it’s a heartfelt celebration wrapped in every cheesy, meaty bite—guaranteed to charm family and friends on a cozy Christmas Eve gathering.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this lasagna lies in its thoughtfully curated ingredients. Each one plays an essential role from building layers of flavor to perfect textures and vibrant colors that light up the palate and plate alike.
- Nonstick cooking spray: Keeps your lasagna from sticking to the pan for perfect slices every time.
- DeLallo No-Boil Lasagna (13.2-ounce box): Saves time and holds layers wonderfully without pre-cooking.
- Best-Ever Bolognese: This rich, slow-simmered sauce forms the flavorful backbone of the recipe.
- Basil pesto ricotta: Adds a fresh, herbal creaminess that balances the hearty meat sauce beautifully.
- 24 ounces shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese (approx. 6 cups): Gives melty, stringy, cheesy goodness.
- 12 ounces Italian cheese blend (about 3 cups): Includes asiago and parmesan for sharp, nutty notes.
- Carrots, celery, and onion: Form the aromatic soffritto base, adding depth and sweetness.
- Pancetta: Brings a smoky, salty crunch to the sauce foundation.
- Garlic: Infuses the sauce with earthy warmth.
- Olive oil: For sautéing and enriching flavors.
- Ground beef and pork: The hearty duo making your Bolognese satisfyingly meaty.
- Tomato paste and canned crushed tomatoes: Deliver robust tomato flavor and body.
- Red wine: Lends complexity and richness to the sauce.
- Fresh rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves: Infuse the sauce with aromatic herbal notes.
- Parmesan rind (optional): Adds an umami boost while simmering the sauce.
- Low-sodium chicken broth or water: For simmering the sauce to silky perfection.
- Heavy cream and grated parmesan: Stirred in last for richness and velvety texture.
- Ricotta cheese, whole or part-skim: Combines with basil pesto for a creamy, fresh layer.
- DeLallo Simply Basil Pesto: Brings herbal brightness to the ricotta blend.
- Eggs: Help bind the ricotta mixture for smooth, firm layering.
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper: To season and balance every layer perfectly.
How to Make Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe
Step 1: Make Your Soffritto and Pancetta Mixtures
Begin by pulsing carrots, celery, and onions in a food processor until finely chopped but not pureed to create your soffritto base. Then, pulse pancetta and garlic to a similar consistency for the pestata. These finely chopped veggie and meat bits build the foundational flavors of your Bolognese sauce with their sweet, salty, and aromatic qualities.
Step 2: Sauté Pestata and Soffritto
Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot and first cook the pancetta and garlic mixture until the pancetta releases its fat and the garlic becomes fragrant. Next, add the soffritto, seasoning with salt, and cook slowly until everything is deeply browned and richly aromatic. This step transforms raw ingredients into a caramelized, flavor-packed base that makes your sauce sing.
Step 3: Brown the Meat
Generously season the ground beef and pork, add them to the pot, and allow the meat to brown undisturbed on each side before breaking it apart. This browning step is essential for developing savory, complex meat flavors and a luscious texture in your festive lasagna Bolognese sauce.
Step 4: Build and Simmer the Sauce
Stir in tomato paste, then add red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up those delectable browned bits from the bottom. Tie together fresh herbs, add them to the pot with crushed tomatoes, broth or water, bay leaves, and optional parmesan rind, then simmer low and slow for at least 90 minutes. This careful simmer melds and deepens all the flavors into a rich, hearty Bolognese worthy of celebration.
Step 5: Finish the Bolognese Sauce
Stir heavy cream and grated parmesan into your sauce, then taste and adjust with salt and pepper. This final touch layers in creaminess and umami, perfectly balancing the meaty tomato goodness for your Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe.
Step 6: Prepare the Basil Pesto Ricotta
While the sauce simmers, stir together ricotta, basil pesto, eggs, parmesan, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. This luxurious blend adds vibrant herbal freshness and creamy texture, offsetting the bold Bolognese beautifully when layered.
Step 7: Assemble Your Lasagna
Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray and ladle a cup of Bolognese on the bottom to prevent sticking. Then build four alternating layers of no-boil pasta, Bolognese sauce, basil pesto ricotta, and cheeses, finishing with a generous sprinkle of mozzarella and Italian cheese on top.
Step 8: Refrigerate and Bake
Cover your assembled lasagna with foil sprayed with nonstick cooking spray and refrigerate for at least 12 hours to let the flavors marry. When ready, bake uncovered for the last 10 minutes at 375°F, or broil briefly at the end, for a golden, bubbling cheese crust that’s pure holiday magic.
Step 9: Rest and Serve Your Festive Masterpiece
After baking, allow the lasagna to rest 10-15 minutes before slicing. This resting time lets those glorious layers settle so each slice holds firm with perfectly balanced flavors in every bite.
How to Serve Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe
Garnishes
Add finishing touches like freshly chopped basil or a sprinkle of grated parmesan right before serving for a pop of color and extra burst of fresh flavor that complements the rich dish beautifully.
Side Dishes
This lasagna shines when paired with a crisp, peppery arugula salad tossed simply with lemon and olive oil, or roasted seasonal vegetables that offer contrasting textures and bright notes to balance the hearty main.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive twist, serve individual portions layered in small ceramic gratin dishes or beautiful shallow ramekins. This not only looks elegant but keeps the cheesy, saucy warmth intact as you serve your Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying the initial feast, cool leftover lasagna completely, then cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to five days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making leftovers even more irresistible.
Freezing
This lasagna freezes beautifully: portion it into airtight containers or wrap the whole pan securely in plastic and foil before freezing. Defrost slowly in the refrigerator overnight before reheating to preserve the texture and flavor.
Reheating
Reheat individual slices covered loosely with foil in a 350°F oven until warmed through, about 20-30 minutes. For a quicker option, microwave on medium power until hot, but oven reheating is best for maintaining that fresh-baked texture and melty cheese perfection.
FAQs
Can I make this lasagna completely ahead of time?
Absolutely! This recipe actually benefits from resting in the fridge for 12 hours or overnight before baking, which helps the flavors meld beautifully and makes assembly stress-free on the big day.
Is there a substitute for pancetta if I can’t find it?
Yes, you can use thick-cut bacon chopped finely as a reasonable substitute. It adds a similar smoky saltiness that complements the Bolognese nicely.
Can I prepare the Bolognese sauce a day or two in advance?
Definitely! The sauce tastes even better after sitting a day or two in the fridge. Just keep it in an airtight container and reheat gently before layering your lasagna.
What type of wine works best in the sauce?
A medium-bodied red wine like Chianti, Sangiovese, or Merlot adds wonderful depth without overpowering the delicate balance of flavors in the sauce.
Do I need to pre-cook the lasagna noodles?
Not with this recipe! Using no-boil lasagna sheets means you save time and still get perfectly tender layers after baking, thanks to the moisture in the sauce.
Final Thoughts
I can’t recommend enough giving this Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe a try for your holiday celebrations. It’s a labor of love that pays off with every cheesy, juicy, herby forkful bringing warmth and festive cheer to your table. Gather loved ones around and create unforgettable memories with this unforgettable lasagna classic.
Print
Christmas Eve Lasagna (Festive Lasagna Bolognese!) Recipe
- Prep Time: 12 hours 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 15 hours 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings (serves 12-15)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This Christmas Eve Lasagna recipe features a festive and rich Bolognese sauce layered with basil pesto ricotta and cheeses, creating a hearty and flavorful celebration dish. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it involves slow-simmering a meat and vegetable sauce to develop deep flavors, assembled with no-boil lasagna sheets, and baked to golden perfection after an overnight rest.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray
- One 13.2-ounce box DeLallo No-Boil Lasagna
- 24 ounces shredded low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 6 cups)
- 12 ounces Italian cheese blend, such as asiago, parmesan, etc. (about 3 cups)
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk or part-skim as desired
- ½ cup grated parmesan (plus extra as needed)
- 2 large eggs
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
Bolognese Sauce
- 2 large carrots, roughly chopped
- 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
- 1 large yellow onion, roughly chopped
- 4 ounces pancetta, roughly chopped
- 6 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- One 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 cup medium-bodied red wine, such as Chianti
- 3–4 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 10–12 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- Optional: 1 parmesan rind
- One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water
- ½ cup heavy cream
Basil Pesto Ricotta
- One 6.3-ounce jar DeLallo Simply Basil Pesto
Instructions
- Prepare soffritto: Add roughly chopped carrot, celery, and onion to a food processor. Pulse until finely broken down but not pureed. Set aside.
- Prepare pestata: Pulse pancetta and garlic in the same food processor until finely chopped. Set aside.
- Cook pestata: Heat olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the pancetta-garlic mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes until pancetta renders and garlic is fragrant.
- Cook soffritto: Add soffritto mixture to the pot with pestata. Season with 1 tsp kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-20 minutes until deeply browned and fragrant. Reduce heat if browning too quickly. Push mixture to pot edges.
- Braise meat: Season ground beef and pork with 1 tsp kosher salt each. Add meat to center of pot without stirring for 2-3 minutes to brown. Turn and brown other side for 2-3 minutes. Break meat into crumbles and combine with soffritto. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fully browned, about 8-10 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook 2-3 minutes to brown.
- Deglaze with wine: Increase heat to medium-high. Pour in red wine and stir constantly, scraping browned bits from bottom. Cook 4-5 minutes until wine is almost absorbed.
- Add herbs and liquids: Tie rosemary and thyme sprigs with twine (or chop), add to pot with bay leaves and optional parmesan rind. Stir in crushed tomatoes and chicken broth or water.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 90 minutes. Add broth/water if too dry and adjust heat to prevent burning.
- Finish sauce: Stir in heavy cream and grated parmesan. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and set aside or refrigerate up to 5 days.
- Prepare basil pesto ricotta: In a bowl, combine ricotta, basil pesto, eggs, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp black pepper, and ½ cup grated parmesan. Mix well and set aside or refrigerate up to 3 days.
- Prepare baking dish: Spray foil and 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread 1 cup bolognese on dish bottom to prevent sticking.
- Assemble lasagna layers: Lay one layer of lasagna sheets, top with half the bolognese, then half the basil pesto ricotta, and sprinkle with ¼ of mozzarella and Italian cheese blend. Repeat layering twice more, finishing with cheese on top.
- Refrigerate for resting: Cover with sprayed foil and refrigerate at least 12 hours before baking.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in center. Remove lasagna from fridge; place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 60 minutes, removing foil in last 10 minutes to brown top. Optionally broil for 5 minutes for extra golden crust.
- Rest and serve: Let lasagna rest 10-15 minutes after baking. Cut into 12-15 squares and serve hot. Enjoy!
Notes
- Pancetta adds rich flavor but can be substituted with bacon or omitted for a milder taste.
- Using no-boil lasagna noodles simplifies assembly and reduces prep time.
- The parmesan rind is optional but adds depth to the sauce during simmering.
- Resting the assembled lasagna overnight allows the flavors to meld and the noodles to soften properly.
- Broiling at the end is optional but creates a beautifully crisp cheesy top.
