Description

This is not your average lasagna — it’s the real-deal Lasagna alla Bolognese, layered with rich ragù, creamy béchamel, and tender pasta sheets. No ricotta here — just deeply savory, slow-cooked goodness straight from Emilia-Romagna.

Ingredients

(Serves 6–8)

🥩 For the Ragù Bolognese:

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
500g (1 lb) ground beef (or a mix of beef + pork)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup whole milk
1 (14 oz / 400g) can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
Salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg
Bay leaf (optional)
Simmer low & slow: 1.5–2 hours

🥛 For the Béchamel Sauce:

4 tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups whole milk, warm
Salt, white pepper, nutmeg

🍝 Other layers:

Lasagna noodles (fresh or no-boil are ideal)
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Instructions

1. Make the Ragù:

In a large pot, heat olive oil, then sauté onion, carrot, celery until soft (about 10 mins).
Add garlic, then ground meat. Brown and break it up.
Pour in wine, simmer until evaporated.
Add milk, simmer until absorbed.
Stir in tomatoes, paste, season with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and bay leaf.
Simmer uncovered on low for 1.5–2 hours, stirring occasionally.

2. Make the Béchamel:

Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour to form a roux.
Slowly add warm milk, whisking constantly until smooth.
Simmer 5–7 mins until thickened.
Season with salt, white pepper, and a hint of nutmeg.

3. Assemble the Lasagna:

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

Layer in a 9×13″ baking dish (or similar):

Thin layer of ragù
Layer of noodles
Ragù
Béchamel
Sprinkle of Parmesan

➡️ Repeat until you’ve used everything (about 3–4 layers).
Finish with béchamel and a generous layer of Parmesan on top.

4. Bake:

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Uncover and bake another 15–20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
Let rest 10–15 minutes before slicing (essential for clean cuts!).

Notes

✔️ Use fresh pasta if you can — it melds beautifully with the sauces
✔️ Make both sauces a day ahead for deeper flavor
✔️ Freezes like a dream — great for meal prep or make-ahead dinners

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 20 min