Easy Beef Lasagne Recipe
Lasagne has the reputation of being one of the oldest types of pasta made. Even though its got modern Italian history to it It actually originated in Ancient Greece. This is actually my brother’s easy beef lasagne recipe.
He has this saying, that its ‘famous in three countries’. Not going to lie here, he’s a bit weird but does make a fantastic lasagne.
A well-made beef lasagne is a meal for a family, or even if you want some comfort on a cold night. I always serve beef lasagnes with a leafy green salad and crusty garlic or herb bread. I won’t judge you either if you have a nice bottle of red wine with it.
You will love this easy beef lasagne recipe
Only if you love a rich tomato-based beef pasta dish. There are plenty of variations to making a lasagne, with options like:
- Veal and eggplant parmigiana lasagne
- Chicken lasagne primavera
- Slow roasted Osso Bucco ragu lasagna
There are some fantastic and amazing lasagne recipes that you can experiment with and whoever you cook for will love and enjoy.
You can scale this recipe up if you are making this recipe it’s perfect for 6 people.
Whilst it can be a good weeknight meal, I prefer to make it on a weekend. As you need to allow for prep ahttps://amzn.to/3m43oebnd baking time. I usually will allow anywhere up to 1.5 hours to prep, bake and then serve.
Ingredients you will need
Instant lasagne sheets – Buy the brand and type you can afford and will enjoy. I love and enjoy the Rana Traditional egg lasagne sheets.
Parmesan cheese – Always make sure you buy a bag of grated parmesan. If you are anything like me, as I cook a lot of pasta dishes. I usually have 2 bags in my fridge. I particularly like the sharp and tasty variety.
Olive oil – Try to stick with virgin olive oil, it’s a bit thicker and perfect for this easy beef lasagne recipe.
Onion and Carrot – Fresh is always better. Even better if you have your own veggie garden in the backyard.
Garlic – I do like fresh garlic gloves, but you can also use a jar of minced garlic.
Beef Mince – I prefer a lean beef mince. But you can use a full type, it just means that the fat content will be slightly higher.
Tomato Paste – Just a standard tomato paste will be perfect.
Canned Tomatoes – Make sure you buy dice or chopped tomatoes in a can. You do not want large lumps of tomatoes in your lasagne.
Chicken Stock – I always keep a few cubes on hand. Mix with hot water and make sure they are dissolved first.
Seasoning – Salt, peppers, and nutmeg. A healthy kitchen will have them on hand in the pantry.
Cheese – Mozzarella is always the pick for lasagne. But a cheddar will work as well. As I wrote above keep some parmesan on hand ready to go.
Flour and milk – Any plain flour will do. Also with the milk, I always go with lite milk.
How to make an Easy Beef Lasagna
Make sure your oven is preheated oven to 180ºC.
- To make the meat sauce, heat oil in a saucepan. Add onion, carrot, and garlic, cook until soft. Add beef mince, cook until brown.
- Stir in tomato paste, canned tomatoes, and chicken stock. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- To make the cheese sauce, melt butter in a separate saucepan, stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes over gentle heat.
- Remove from heat and gradually stir in the milk. Return to heat, and continue to stir until thick and smooth.
- Season with salt, pepper and add mozzarella or cheddar cheese, stirring over low heat until cheese melts.
- To assemble the lasagna, pour ½ cup of the meat sauce into a lightly greased baking dish. Alternate layers of lasagna, meat, and cheese sauces, ending with cheese sauce layer (allow for 4 layers if you can).
- Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and bake for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through (test if cooked by pricking with a fork).
- Allow lasagna to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Serve and enjoy with family and friends!
Lasagna cooking tips you need to know
Get the right ingredients beforehand
- This recipe is for a beef lasagne but you can substitute pork or sausage even chicken.
- Make sure it’s whole cheeses and milk. I do like lite milk myself.
- Stick to fresh ingredients – Make sure everything you buy ie carrots, onions e.t.c are nice and fresh.
- Canned tomatoes are perfect for it. But you can make your sauce from scratch
Lasagna Assemble
Yes ok, that’s the Avengers catch cry. But you know what I mean
- Make sure you have a pan that is about 3 inches deep.
- Always start with meat sauce down first
- Then layer it properly, finishing with white sauce on the top.
- Make sure you spread grated parmesan cheese on the top.
Rest after you cook it
- Means you and the lasagna.
- Give it a decent 10 minutes before you cut it after taking it from the oven.
Prepping the day before
You can always prep a lasagne the day before and store it in the fridge before popping it in the oven. It also freezes well, if you want to take some for lunch after it’s been cooked.
Easy Beef Lasagne Recipe
Equipment
- Saucepans
- Baking Dish
Ingredients
- Instant Lasagna Sheets
- Parmesan Cheese
Meat Sauce
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Onion finely chopped
- 1 Carrot finely chopped
- 1 Clove of garlic crushed
- 500 g Beef mince
- 5 tbsp Tomato paste
- 2 400g Canned tomotoes diced
- 2 cups Chicken stock
- Salt and pepper to taste
- pinch Nutmeg
Cheese Sauce
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 2 tbsp Plain flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 125 g Mozzarella or chedar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat over to 180oC or 356F
Start with meat sauce
- Heat oil in a saucepan. Add onion, carrot and garlic. Cooking it until soft. Make sure you stir it reguarly.
- Add beef mince to it, then cook unitl brown. Again stiring it regularyly so it doesn't burn.
- Stir in tomato paste, canned tomatoes and chicken salt.
- Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cover and simmer gently fo 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Make cheesesauce
- Start melting the butter in a seperate saucepan, stir in flour and cook for 2 minutes over gentle heat.
- Remove form heat and gradually stir in the milk, Return to heat and continue to stir until thick and smooth
- Season with salt and pepper and add mozzarella or cheddar cheese, stirring over low heat until cheese melts.
How to assemble lasagna
- Pour 1/2 cup of the meat sauce into a lightly greased baking dish. Alternate layers of lasagna, meat and cheese sauces, ending with cheese sauce layer. (try to allow for 4 layers
- Spinkle with grated pamesan cheese and bake for 35-40 minues or until cooked through (test if cooked by pricking with a fork) .
- Allow lasagna to stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
The thing you need to know about Lasange
Lasagne is plural and refers to the noodles themselves, also plural. Lasagna is Italian American parlance and refers to the aforementioned cheesy composition, the actual dish. Don’t try to make this with homemade pasta stick to store-bought.
Messing cooking is ok
I am tired of Instagram foodies putting up edited pictures of the dishes they cook.
Actual mess after cooking lasange
This is what my stovetop looked like after cooking this recipe. So don’t worry, just make sure you have someone else clean up for you.
Using foil is a smart thing
If you are like me I load my dish up. It does overflow, just layer some alfoil down first. It’s just a simple scrunch it up and throw it out.
The washup
Really hooped you enjoyed this recipe. if you want to check out more fantastic simple cooking ideas then click here.
