Go Back
A close-up shot of a thick, layered slice of homemade lasagna on a white plate, garnished with fresh parsley.

Classic Lasagna Bolognese

This traditional Classic Lasagna Bolognese features rich, slow-cooked meat sauce layered with creamy béchamel, tender pasta, and plenty of Parmesan cheese, baked to golden perfection. It's the ultimate comforting Italian classic perfect for feeding a crowd.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 750

Ingredients
  

For the Bolognese Sauce
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb ground beef 80/20 lean
  • 1/2 lb ground pork
  • 1 large onion finely chopped
  • 2 carrots peeled and finely diced
  • 2 celery stalks finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine like Chianti or Merlot
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1/2 cup milk whole milk preferred
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Béchamel Sauce
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 6 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups whole milk warm
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
For the Lasagna Assembly
  • 12-15 lasagna noodles no-boil or traditional, follow package directions for pre-cooking if needed
  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese optional, for top layer

Equipment

  • Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot
  • Medium saucepan
  • Whisk
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Grater

Method
 

Prepare the Bolognese Sauce
  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and pork, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain off excess fat.
  2. Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté until vegetables are softened, about 8-10 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze. Let it simmer until almost completely evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, milk, bay leaf, and dried oregano. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and let the Bolognese simmer for at least 2.5 hours, or up to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove the bay leaf before assembly.
Prepare the Béchamel Sauce
  1. While the Bolognese simmers, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk constantly for 1-2 minutes to form a roux, cooking out the raw flour taste.
  2. Gradually whisk in the warm milk, a little at a time, ensuring no lumps form. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens to a creamy consistency, about 5-7 minutes.
  3. Remove from heat and stir in salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Keep warm or cover to prevent a skin from forming.
Prepare Lasagna Noodles (Optional)
  1. If using traditional lasagna noodles, cook them according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water, and lay flat on parchment paper or a clean kitchen towel to prevent sticking. No-boil noodles do not require this step.
Assemble the Lasagna
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread a thin layer of Bolognese sauce (about 1/2 cup) on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Place a layer of lasagna noodles (3-4 noodles, depending on their size) over the sauce, slightly overlapping if necessary. Spoon about 1.5 cups of Bolognese sauce evenly over the noodles. Drizzle about 1 cup of béchamel sauce over the Bolognese. Sprinkle generously with Parmesan cheese (about 1/4 cup).
  3. Repeat the layers: noodles, Bolognese, béchamel, Parmesan. You should get 3-4 layers. For the final layer, place noodles, then the remaining béchamel sauce, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. If desired, add 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top for an extra cheesy crust.
Bake the Lasagna
  1. Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 30-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly. If the top browns too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil again.
  3. Let the lasagna rest for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the layers to set and prevents it from falling apart.

Notes

**Make Ahead:** Lasagna can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance, covered, and refrigerated. Add an extra 15-20 minutes to the covered baking time if baking from cold.
**Freezing:** Leftover baked lasagna (or an entire unbaked lasagna) can be frozen. Wrap individual portions tightly or cover the entire dish with plastic wrap and foil. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating or baking.
**Sauce Consistency:** The Bolognese should be thick and rich, not watery. If it's too thin, simmer uncovered for a bit longer. The béchamel should be smooth and pourable but thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.