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Baked cheesy lasagna in a white baking dish with fresh herbs on top.

Lasagna for Freezer (Make Ahead Lasagna)

Smiling woman with glasses and dark hair, professional portrait for Baked Bree website.Diane Goodman
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Main Course, pasta
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 14
Calories 439 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 1 pound Ground Sausage
  • 1 Onion diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 1 tsp dried Oregano
  • 8 oz Tomato Puree
  • 28 oz can Crushed Tomato
  • ¼ cup Butter
  • ¼ cup Flour
  • 2 cups Whole Milk
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese Shredded
  • 1 cup Parmesan finely shredded (Divided)
  • 1 cup Mozzarella shredded
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 12 Lasagna sheets

Instructions
 

  • Heat a large skillet or heavy-based pot over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. Add the ground beef, ground sausage, onion, and crushed garlic and brown for 8 - 10 until dry.
    Ground beef and onions cooking in a skillet, preparing for a homemade beef recipe.
  • Add the fennel seeds, oregano, tomato puree, and crushed tomato, along with a pinch of salt and pepper and stir. Simmer on a low heat for 25 minutes. Stir regularly and add water if needed.
    Minced garlic, onion, ground beef, tomato sauce, dried herbs in skillet for cooking.
  • Make the cheese sauce in the meantime. In a small saucepan over a low heat, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Use a whisk to whisk it together until it is smooth.
    Creamy mixture being whisked in a saucepan with a handheld electric whisk.
  • Slowly pour in the milk and keep whisking until it thickens. Don’t walk away as it can take a little time to start to thicken, but once it starts thickening it goes quickly.
  • Take the saucepan off the stove and add the shredded Monterey Jack in along with half the parmesan. Stir it into the sauce with a pinch of salt.
    Cream cheese and shredded cheese in a saucepan for cheesy recipes.
  • Assemble the lasagna by spooning a layer of meat sauce into the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Then add a single layer of lasagna sheets, then a layer of cheese sauce. Repeat these layers until you have 3 layers.
    Ground beef taco casserole with three layers of cheese and seasoned beef mixture, baked in a white dish.
  • Sprinkle the mozzarella and remaining parmesan over the top.
    Creamy cheesy baked casserole with shredded cheese on top, ready to bake.
  • To quickly cook lasagna next time, bake it for 20 minutes with foil on top, let it cool, wrap it tightly in plastic, and freeze. You can also freeze it uncooked by wrapping it well in plastic. Ensure the wrap is airtight.
    Golden baked cheesy lasagna in a white ceramic dish, rich and delicious homemade comfort food.
  • Thaw lasagna fully. Cover with foil, bake at 325F for 20 minutes (precooked) or 45 minutes (uncooked). For crispier cheese, remove foil for last 10 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 439kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 23gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 12gSodium: 577mgFiber: 2g
Keyword Lasagna for Freezer
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