The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna Recipe - Food.com (2024)

10

Submitted by muncheechee

"This recipe comes from an America's Test Kitchen cookbook entitled The Best Make-Ahead Recipe. Everything I've made from this cookbook has been superb and this is my new favorite! The best part about this recipe is that it uses Barilla's No Boil Lasagna Noodles. After making this lasagna I will never use another kind of noodle! The noodles mimic fresh pasta because they turn out delicate, not chewy like other no-boil noodles I've tried. Make sure to use good quality canned tomatoes and don't be alarmed about the sauce tasting too tomato-y and sharp because the taste mellows dramatically in the final dish. The recipe calls for meatloaf mix but if you can't find it (or in my experience, aren't willing to pay the high price) you can substitute lean ground beef, pork, italian sausage, or any combination thereof. Whole milk ricotta cheese and mozzarella give the best results if you are freezing this dish to serve later but if you are baking this immediately then skim or part-skim ingredients can be substituted without any loss in flavor."

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Ready In:
1hr 40mins

Ingredients:
18
Yields:

1 Lasagna

Serves:
8

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ingredients

  • SAUCE

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, minced
  • 6 medium garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tbsps)
  • 1 lb meatloaf mix
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
  • 14 cup heavy cream
  • 1 (28 ounce) can tomato puree (or tomato sauce)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • RICOTTA FILLING

  • 24 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese (about 3 cups)
  • 2 ounces parmesan cheese, grated (about 1 cup)
  • 12 cup fresh basil leaf, chopped
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 12 teaspoon salt
  • 12 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • NOODLES AND CHEESE

  • 12 no-boil flat lasagna noodles, preferably Barilla (there are 16 noodles per box)
  • 1 lb whole milk mozzarella, shredded (about 4 cups)
  • 1 ounce parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)

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directions

  • FOR THE SAUCE: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven (or large pot) over medium heat until shimmering.
  • Add the onions and cook until softened but not browned, about 3 minutes.
  • Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  • Stir in the meat, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, breaking the meat into small pieces until the meat loses its raw color but has not browned, about 4 minutes.
  • Stir in the cream, bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid evaporates and only the fat remains, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the tomato puree and drained diced tomatoes (and a splash of your favorite red wine if you feel so inclined).
  • Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors are blended, about 3 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
  • FOR THE RICOTTA FILLING: Stir all the ingredients together until combined; set aside.
  • TO ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNA: Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (avoiding large chunks of meat).
  • Place 3 noodles in a single layer.
  • Spread each noodle with 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture.
  • Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzerella.
  • Spoon 1 cup of sauce evenly over the cheeses.
  • Repeat layering twice more.
  • Place the remaining 3 noodles on top, cover with the remaining sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzerella and the Parmesan.
  • TO STORE: Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and then foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze up to 1 month. (If frozen, the casserole must be thawed completely in the refrigerator, about 24 hours).
  • TO SERVE: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and pre-heat to 400 degrees. Unwrap the dish and cover tightly with aluminium foil that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray (or use nonstick foil). Place a rimmed baking sheet under the dish to catch any overspill. Bake until the sauce bubbles lightly around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until hot throughout and the cheese is browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
  • TO SERVE RIGHT AWAY: Follow instructions above, reducing covered baking time to 15 minutes.

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Reviews

  1. We made this in the morning and baked it for dinner. It was great. All our guests went for seconds. We used cottage cheese instead of ricotta. Next time I will add more garlic and will use the Italian seasoned diced tomatoes. This recipe is a keeper!

    Gator Bake

  2. I selected this recipe because it was good for making ahead of time- I find that lasagna is usually better when it’s had more time to set up anyway. But ironically I wasn’t able to make it in advance so had to prep and bake it right away and it was delicious!! Perfectly set up, not runny at all, full of lovely flavors. The only thing I added was freshly chopped parsley and basil on top. Excellent recipe.

    shstrass

  3. Pretty good! I used cottage cheese instead of ricotta (personal preference). I will use less salt next time. Also my first time using no boil noodles and I couldn't tell a difference. I used the Barilla brand

    SomeBRich

  4. This is WONDERFUL! The best lasagna I've ever had! The only change I made was to use ground chuck instead of meatloaf mix. Definitely a keeper!

    ewells

  5. Made this last night with no boil lasagna sheets. I have tried no boil before with less than great results so I was a bit nervous. I liked the sauce came together quickly with no long simmering times AND it tasted great! I made a 9x13 pan and I recommend offsetting each layer of lasagna sheets so you have a more uniform lasagna rather than 3 stacks of noodles and cheese. I baked this right away following the directions to shorten time covered with foil. Please check during the longer bake time - I think my oven runs hot and my lasagna was a bit over baked. My fault....not recipe fault. I will certainly be making a pan or two for the freezer. It's a keeper.

    TransplantedHusker

see 5 more reviews

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Tweaks

  1. This is WONDERFUL! The best lasagna I've ever had! The only change I made was to use ground chuck instead of meatloaf mix. Definitely a keeper!

    ewells

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

muncheechee

  • 1 Follower
  • 30 Recipes
  • 19 Tweaks

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The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna Recipe  - Food.com (2024)

FAQs

Is it best to make lasagna the night before? ›

Lasagna is the kind of food that can keep a family fed for many nights in a row, happily. But it has other perks, too: namely, that you can prepare the whole thing in advance, and store it in the fridge overnight—ready to pop in the oven an hour or so before dinner (just before the kids start to whine).

Can I assemble lasagna with fresh pasta ahead of time? ›

You can prepare lasagna up to 24 hours before baking it. To do so, follow these instructions: Assemble the lasagna in an oven-safe container and store it in the refrigerator. The temperature should be at or below 40 degrees.

How long can an unbaked lasagna stay in the fridge? ›

A: If you assemble and bake the lasagna ahead of time, you shouldn't keep it longer than three days in the refrigerator. If you need to keep it longer, it would be better to freeze it and reheat it. If you just need to make it a day ahead, you could refrigerate it before baking it.

Is lasagna better fresh or next day? ›

Have you noticed if you cut your lasagne as soon as it comes out of the oven, it can be sloppy, falls apart easily and the sauce runs to the bottom of the dish? When you have it the next day, the sauce has had time to firm up and create an even richer tomato taste,” she says.

What not to do when making lasagna? ›

In the spirit of learning and lasagna, here are the top mistakes everyone makes with lasagna.
  1. Overcooking the noodles. ...
  2. Boiling noodles without oil and salt. ...
  3. Letting your lasagna get too soupy. ...
  4. Using the wrong protein. ...
  5. Overloading the layers. ...
  6. Substituting cottage cheese for ricotta. ...
  7. Using preshredded cheese.
Aug 30, 2022

Can you assemble and refrigerate lasagna before baking? ›

Absolutely! Making lasagna ahead of time and baking it on the day you plan to serve it is a great idea. You can assemble the lasagna, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking.

How many layers should lasagna have? ›

Betony Kitchen says you could make lasagna with as little as two layers for a quick lasagna that doesn't take long to bake. Many, however, would consider this skimping. Most recipes you'll find for lasagna call for a minimum of three layers, which seems to be the universal standard.

What is the best way to layer lasagna? ›

In a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) glass baking dish, add a layer of bolognese to the bottom. Top with noodles, then spread a layer of the ricotta mixture on top. Repeat with another layer of bolognese, noodles, ricotta, noodles, bolognese, then top with mozzarella and additional Parmesan.

Can you prepare oven ready lasagna ahead of time? ›

Lasagne may be prepared up to 24 hours in advance without baking it. Prepare and store the Lasagne in the refrigerator at or below 40°F. Since the Lasagne will be cold it will require a longer baking time, approximately 60 minutes at 375°F.

Do you bake lasagna covered or uncovered? ›

In an oven preheated to 375 degrees F, this homemade lasagna should be perfectly baked in about 50 minutes (30-40 minutes covered, 5-10 minutes uncovered).

Should I take lasagna out of fridge before baking? ›

Remove lasagna from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes.

Why do you put milk in lasagna? ›

Milk. It tenderises the meat, to leave you with the most tender ragù.

Do you put a layer of pasta on the bottom of lasagna? ›

Start by spreading a layer of your tomato-based sauce (either a plain tomato sauce or your pre-made ragù) on the bottom of your dish. Next, add a single layer of pasta sheets. Then, add a layer of white sauce, followed by another single layer of pasta sheets.

Can you eat lasagna that's been in the fridge for a week? ›

Cooked lasagna keeps in the refrigerator for up to five days if stored in a tightly sealed container to keep out excess moisture and other contaminants.

Is it better to cook lasagna and reheat the next day? ›

Lasagna keeps and reheats like a dream, and with a few easy tips, you can maximize your results. Read on for everything you need to know to take your lasagna leftovers from good to great.

How do you store cooked lasagna overnight? ›

As for storing, cover them with clingfilm or tin foil keep them in the fridge. Reheating, as said, goes in two different ways. Is it safe to eat lasagna that is left out overnight? I have eaten food like that many times, especially if it was covered.

Can you leave lasagna in oven overnight? ›

Nope. Food should be properly stored within 2 hours. The danger zone, in which bacteria multiplies most quickly is at a temerature between 40–140 degrees. Yours was in that zone for many, many hours.

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