• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Courtney's Sweets
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Course / Lasagna Bolognese

    Lasagna Bolognese

    BY: Courtney PUBLISHED: Feb 23, 2018 4 Comments UPDATED ON: Oct 20, 2022

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Yummly
    JUMP TO RECIPE
    lasagna bolognese on a plate with a fork and bite full taken out and text on image saying lasagna bolognese.
    lasagna bolognese on a plate with a fork and bite full taken out with banner between saying lasagna bolognese and a photo of the bolognese on the bottom in a dutch oven.

    Our Lasagna Bolognese is the ultimate meat lasagna recipe. We use ground beef and short ribs falling off the bone. You can also use your Sunday Sauce!

    lasagna bolognese on a plate with a fork and bite full taken out.

    Our Lasagna Bolognese is so flavorful and full of ground beef and short ribs that are cooked to perfection in a luscious hearty pasta sauce.

    This is truly an easy meat lasagna recipe, and you can swap the meat out for your favorites if short ribs aren’t your thing, but please promise you’ll try them at least once if you don’t make them in this homemade lasagna recipe, you can easily just try the homemade meat sauce with it!

    sliced lasagna in a baking dish.

    Recipe ingredients

    ingredients in bowls and plates for lasagna bolognese.

    Ingredient notes

    • Olive Oil – This helps sear the meat and veggies.
    • Short Ribs – If you don’t want to use short ribs, you could also add sausage or more ground beef.
    • Ground Beef – We go for 85%, but you can go leaner. If you go too lean, it could be dry.
    • Celery, Carrots, Onion, and Garlic – They add a ton of flavor and are a must-have in this meaty sauce.
    • Grape Juice or Red Wine – If you can’t do wine, you can use grape juice. It gives the same rich flavor.
    • Parsley, Cumin, Basil, Salt & Pepper – All about the flavor, we recommend using salt to taste.
    • Diced Tomatoes & Tomato Puree – These make the sauce. You can also use crushed tomatoes instead of diced tomatoes.
    lasagna bolognese on a spatula being held up in the air above baking dish.

    How to make lasagna bolognese

    For the full ingredient amount and full instructions, see the recipe card below.

    In a dutch oven, brown the ground beef and short ribs in olive oil. The olive oil helps with searing the meat and creating that maillard reaction which results in rich flavor.

    seared short ribs in a cast iron skillet.
    ground beef in a cast iron skillet.

    Once they are browned, add in all the remaining ingredients for the bolognese and cook for 2 hours.

    cooked ground beef and short ribs in a dutch oven.
    vegetables, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings in a dutch oven.

    After two hours, you can remove the short ribs and shred the meat off the bones. Discard the bones.

    short rib and beef bolognese in a dutch oven.
    shredded short ribs on a cutting board.

    Next, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and get ready to assemble your lasagna. If you’re freezing the lasagna, you can skip preheating the oven.

    In a bowl, combine the ricotta and mozzarella.

    lasagna cheese mixture in a glass bowl.

    Add some of the bolognese to a 9×13 inch pan, then add some of the pasta, ricotta, more bolognese, pasta, etc.

    sauce on the bottom of a lasagna pan.
    assembling lasagna bolognese pasta layer.
    assembling lasagna bolognese ricotta cheese layer.
    assembling lasagna bolognese meat layer.
    assembling lasagna bolognese cheese layer.

    Finish with a layer of sauce and a sprinkling of shredded mozzarella.

    Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes to brown the top.

    Let the lasagna cool for about 15 minutes before slicing.

    lasagna bolognese on a spatula being held up above the baking dish.

    Recipe tips and variations

    • Not interested in the prep with shortribs? Add more ground beef, or do a combo of sausage and ground beef.
    • Prep this ahead by making a day in advance or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Storage and reheating tips

    • Refrigerate: Store any lasagna leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it within 3-4 days.
    • Freeze: To freeze leftover baked lasagna, place it in an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
    • Reheat: To reheat, place the leftover cooked lasagna in an oven-safe dish with a splash of water, cover it with foil and bake for 30 minutes or until the lasagna is heated throughout.
    lasagna leftovers in a baking dish with serving spatula.

    How to freeze lasagna

    It’s best to set aside the portion of lasagna you plan to freeze before baking.

    We like assembling in a stainless steel baking pan or our souper cubes for smaller portions. You can also use disposable foil pans. All of these options are good for freezing and then removing to bake.

    To cook the defrosted lasagna, we like to take it out of the freezer the night before and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator (do not thaw at room temperature). The next day you’ll want to bake covered with foil for 35-40 minutes and then remove the foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until heated throughout.

    How to serve

    We serve it with a side salad and our homemade Garlic Bread Recipe or Dinner Rolls.

    Frequently asked questions

    What kind of meat is best for lasagna?

    You can use a variety of meats and cheeses. We like going with ground beef and short ribs. You could also do chicken, turkey, or pork sausage. Some like a mixture of beef and pork, beef and sausage.

    What are short ribs?

    Short ribs are a tender cut of beef. It can be on or off the bone in the markets. It’s taken from the short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the chuck portion. They’re great for braising and slow cooking. I love adding them to my lasagna bolognese, meat sauce, and chili! When you put it into this meat lasagna recipe, it will not be tough but extremely tender.

    How long does it take to cook lasagna?

    Once everything is assembled, it will take about 15-20 minutes to bake. Since this requires a bit of prep, I usually do it on a large cook day, where we plan a big family dinner on Sunday. We go for 20 minutes if we make 2 small lasagnas or 30-45 minutes if we make a large one. Classic lasagna is usually made in a 9×13 pan, but you can easily put this into two or even three loaf pans.

    Can I make lasagna ahead of time?

    You can easily prep the lasagna the day before baking or even freeze it to enjoy it another time. We recommend freezing no longer than 3 months.

    Why does it say grape juice for wine?

    My lasagna bolognese can be made without wine. Grape juice is a great alternative to red wine. My grandma would use red wine, but cooking with wine may not be doable for some. Grape juice makes a great substitute here and adds the same flavors we’re looking for.

    what to serve with lasagna

    dinner rolls

    Homemade Dinner Rolls

    french bread sliced

    French Bread Recipe (stand mixer)

    garlic bread

    Garlic Bread Recipe

    lasagna bolognese on a plate with a fork and bite full taken out.

    Lasagna Bolognese

    Our Lasagna Bolognese is the ultimate meat lasagna recipe. We use ground beef and short ribs falling off the bone. You can also use your Sunday Sauce!
    5 from 8 votes

    click the stars to rate this recipe

    Print Pin Recipe
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 274kcal
    Author: Courtney

    Ingredients

    Bolognese Sauce

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 lb Short Ribs meaty
    • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
    • 1 stalk Celery chopped
    • 2 Carrots shredded
    • 1 small Yellow Onion chopped
    • 5 cloves Garlic minced
    • 3/4 Cup Concord Grape Juice 100% juice, or you can use red wine
    • 1 Teaspoon Parsley
    • 1/3 Teaspoon Cumin
    • 1 Teaspoon Basil
    • 28 oz Canned Diced Tomatoes
    • 28 oz Canned Tomato Puree
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Lasagna

    • Lasagna noodles , cooked
    • 15 Oz Ricotta
    • 2 Cups Shredded Mozzarella + extra for the top!!
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • In a large pan, brown the ground beef and short ribs in a little olive oil.
    • Once they have browned, combine all the ingredients for the bolognese and cook for at least 2 hours on medium/low heat.
    • When the bolognese is done, shred the short ribs off the bone.
    • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
    • Now it's time to assemble the lasagna in a 9×13 pan.
    • Combine the ricotta and mozzarella.
    • Smear some sauce onto the bottom of the pan, followed by pasta, ricotta mixture, bolognese, pasta, etc.
    • The top layer should be some sauce and then some shredded mozzarella.
    • Cover the lasagna with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes to brown the top.
    • Let the lasagna cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 274kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 313mg | Potassium: 769mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2380IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 269mg | Iron: 4mg

    The nutritional information is automatically calculated and can vary based ingredients and products used. If the nutrition numbers are important for you we recommend calculating them yourself.

    nutrition disclaimer
    Tried this recipe?Mention @courtneyssweets or tag #courtneyssweets!

    So nice to have you here! Did you try this recipe? ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Be sure to leave a recipe rating! Also, tag us @courtneyssweets #courtneyssweets on Instagram so we can share it!

    More Main Course

    • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce
    • Dairy Free Beef Stroganoff
    • Broccoli Cheddar Soup
    • Dairy Free Dinner Recipes

    POSTED IN: Beef Main Course Pasta Recipes Sauces

    About Courtney

    Family, Food, and Photography are Courtney's passions and you'll see all of that on this blog. She is happily married to her husband Chris and together they have two amazing kiddos!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. [email protected]

      March 01, 2015 at 10:41 am

      You KNOW I love lasagna! Thanks for linking up to Simply Sundays!

      Reply
    2. Thalia @ butter and brioche

      March 01, 2015 at 11:13 pm

      Nothing beats a classic & hearty lasagna! This looks divine.

      Reply
    3. Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

      March 04, 2018 at 3:21 am

      My brothers favourite dish is Lasagne….also because of Garfield!!! LOL

      Your lasagne looks delicious, I have never had it with ricotta, only with béchamel sauce.
      Can’t wait to try it with ricotta!!! That would be so much easier than making a white sauce.

      Reply
    4. Lane | With Two Spoons

      March 04, 2018 at 9:41 am

      I love lasagna, but so rarely make it. Short ribs would make this out of this world! YUM! Sharing to my FB page right now!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    fall family photo mom, son, daughter, dad.

    WELCOME, I'M COURTNEY! This is where I share all the sweet things in my life. From my family, recipes we love, and even fun DIY projects and parties!

    More about me →

    Subscribe Today

    For all the latest in your inbox



    All links on this site may be affiliate links and should be considered as such. Courtney's Sweets is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Cookie Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About
    • Nutrition Disclaimer

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Courtney's Sweets