This homemade classic beef lasagne recipe is made up of layers of rich meat and tomato sauce, cheesy sauce and pasta sheets. There's nothing quite like a lasagne made from scratch!
Sometimes you just can't beat a classic recipe, you know? As much as I love being creative and coming up with exciting recipes occasionally I fancy something a bit more familiar.
For me that can mean a sausage and bean stew on a Sunday night, an easy beef stroganoff slowly cooked on a Saturday afternoon or a hearty chicken and vegetable soup to use up leftovers from a roast dinner.
Or it can mean the ultimate in classic, a homemade lasagne (or lasagna if you're in the US!). Crunchy edges, gooey cheese and rich meaty sauce. It's so dreamy.
Ooo I love a good traditional lasagne recipe me. You guys know what I'm saying? (I've got several other versions on the blog including a vegetarian lasagne and a butternut squash lasagne).
How you can get a ready made lasagne and it'll be...ok I guess...but when you've gone to the effort of making one from scratch it literally cannot be bad.
Tell me, have you ever had a bad homemade lasagne? I'm 100% sure the answer is no, never, homemade lasagne is the best!
When you've got a couple of hours to make something tasty, especially if you're making it for someone special, then there's nothing better to make than a homemade classic beef lasagne.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a super simple, weeknight deal then check out this one pot lasagne instead!
INGREDIENTS YOU NEED TO MAKE BEEF LASAGNE:
- Olive Oil
- Onion
- Beef Mince (Ground Beef)
- Smoked Bacon
- Garlic
- Carrots
- Mushrooms
- Red Wine
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Salt and Pepper
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Basil
- Beef Stock Cube
- Chilli Flakes
- Tomato Puree
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Dijon Mustard
- Parmesan
- Nutmeg
- Cheddar
- Lasagne Sheets
Keep scrolling to get the full recipe for this homemade classic beef lasagne...
This recipe is completely delicious and you can't underestimate the sense of accomplishment you get from making a lasagne from scratch. When you take it out of the oven and it's all bubbling and amazing and you bring it to the table ready for people to fight over the crispy corners (#crispylasagnecorners4life).
How do you make beef lasagne?
- Making a lasagne is all about being organised. The beef sauce needs to simmer for 30 minutes so make that first so that it has time to get all unctuous.
- While the beef cooks then get your cheesy white sauce on the go. This is a great way to add extra flavour so hit it with the mustard, parmesan and a little nutmeg. Make sure you bubble until it thickens a bit to avoid a sloppy lasagne!
- Get your sauces, lasagne sheets and cheese all laid out ready to assemble then you're ready to make your lasagne.
How do you season ground beef for lasagne?
For the meat sauce for this lasagne I like to start off with onion and then some bacon because it adds so much more flavour to the beef. Garlic, dried oregano, dried basil and red wine help to round out the sauce and make it rich and delicious.
What kind of meat can be put in lasagne if you don't like beef?
While beef is the classic meat used in lasagne I think this recipe could also more really well with turkey mince so feel free to try that if you don't like beef or are looking for a slightly lighter option.
What's the difference between lasagna and lasagne?
I always thought that one was American and one was British but in Italian it's actually the difference between singular and plural meaning that lasagna refers to a single lasagna sheet and lasagne means more than one sheet.
What should I serve with lasagne?
I love mine served with a simple side salad. The lasagne is so rich that it's nice to have something to cut through that cheesiness and meatiness. Try some little gem lettuce, cucumber, tomato and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic. Delicious!
How do you store lasagne?
Cooked lasagne will last for 3-5 days in the fridge, just make sure it's tightly covered with foil or cling film. If you'd like to store it for longer then freeze it.
How do you freeze lasagne?
Follow the instruction to cook the lasagne as normal then leave to cool completely and cover. Place in the freeze and store for up to 3 months. When ready to eat defrost thoroughly and place in the oven for 10 minutes to heat through.
Do you need to cover lasagne while baking?
Covering the lasagne for half of the cooking time helps to make sure it doesn't go dry and the top doesn't brown too much. Use foil and remove it halfway through cooking.
Want more? Try these other pasta recipes!
- One Pot Smoked Gouda Pasta
- Creamy Mushroom Pasta with Thyme
- Creamy Lemon Vodka Salmon Pasta
- One Pot Cheese and Tomato Pasta Bake
- Roasted Cauliflower Pasta
- One Pot Pasta with Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom
Recipe
Homemade Classic Beef Lasagne
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 50 ml Olive Oil
- 1 large Onion chopped
- 600 g Beef Mince
- 4 rashers Smoked Bacon chopped into 1 inch squares
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 Carrots peeled and chopped
- 125 g Mushrooms chopped
- 250 ml Red Wine
- 2 400g tins Chopped Tomatoes
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 2 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1 Beef Stock Cube
- 1 pinch Chilli Flakes
- 2 tablespoon Tomato Purée/Tomato Paste
White Sauce
- 50 g Butter
- 50 g Plain Flour
- 750 ml Milk
- 2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
- 30 g Parmesan Cheese grated
- Salt and Pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
- 50 g Cheddar grated
- 250 g Dry Lasagne Sheets
- Extra Cheddar grated, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°C. Heat the olive oil in a big pot or frying pan over a medium heat. Add the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened. Add the beef, bacon, garlic, carrots and mushrooms and cook until the beef has browned. Pour in the red wine and bring to a boil before adding the chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper, oregano, basil, stock cube, chilli flakes and tomato purée. Simmer for half an hour.
- While the tomato sauce is cooking make the white sauce. Melt the butter over a medium heat and whisk in the flour. Once you have a smooth paste gradually pour in the milk while whisking. Add the mustard, cheeses, nutmeg and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Cook for 5-10 minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat.
- You're now ready to assemble your lasagne. Spread a couple of spoonfuls of meat sauce in the bottom of a baking dish, top with lasagne sheets and a spoonful of white sauce. Repeat the process until you've finished the meat sauce and make sure to finish with a final layer of white sauce. Top the whole thing with grated cheddar, cover with foil and cook for 45 minutes removing the foil half way through cooking.
Suzy says
This is perfect! All of the flavors are just perfect! This is so similar how my mother in law used to make it!
kim says
I love how easy and tasty this lasagna is! I will be making this one again and again!
Ellen says
Oh, my, word! That cheese! I love a good lasagne and yours looks delicious!
Julia says
Your recipe for classic lasagne looks just perfect! So rich and flavorful! I have not used chili flakes in my recipe so will give this one a go!
Kelly Anthony says
Bacon in lasagne, yes, please! This takes homemade classic lasagne to the next level.
Verna says
CAN you post with regular measurements I don’t know how to convert grams into cups
Amy says
Hi Verna, if you click the US measures link underneath the ingredients list it'll show cup measures. Hope that helps!
Alison says
Just made it and it looks like yours and smells delicious
Amy says
I'm so happy to hear that Alison!
Gené Randel says
What a great recipe!! Wonderful! I used turkey mince because we’re trying to be healthier but everything else was as per the instructions (except cheese, I ALWAYS add more cheese ). I can never do the prep as quick as any recipe says. I would suggest making the ragu and béchamel and assembling in the afternoon and then just stick it in the oven when you’re ready. It was very tasty, cannot fault it at all!
Amy says
Thanks so much Gené! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Dahn says
I have never had a homemade lasagna that I did not like and this one looks divine. I have had it with red sauce and white sauce but I really do like the white sauce the best.
Ginny says
I haven't made lasagna in so long. Your photos are beautiful and I love the mushroom and carrot additions!
Sarah says
Ohhhh this looks so good!! I've been craving a home-cooked hot comfort food dish {what a description, I know haha} but we randomly had a heat wave this weekend....definitely once the temps dip again, this lasagna will be on the menu!
Trang says
WOW that cheese crust looks amazing! You're making me so hungry >.<
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
This looks phenomenal! I absolutely have to try it. Love all that cheese!
Andrew says
Made this tonight. I think you're somewhat optimistic on the preparation time - altogether it took well over two hours from start to finish - but the result was excellent. Really tasty.
Thank you - will try it again and hope to get faster with practice.