5 of the Best Lasagne Recipes to Try at Home
I don’t know about you, but in my household there are a select few dishes that make it onto our weekly menu — easy, tasty, and loved by all. If you’re looking for a twist on a classic, exploring the best lasagne recipes can bring a fresh spin to your usual favourites. But even our favourites can get a bit stale, including the classic lasagne.
A firm family favourite, we normally have lasagne once a week, and I used to stick to the traditional beef ragù layered with creamy white sauce and topped with gooey cheese. But when I started thinking about our weekly menu (I’m the only cook in the house) and looking around for new things to try, I realised — why not start by reinventing the dishes I already make?
So began my mission to shake up lasagne night. Here are Crave Mag’s 5 of the Best Lasagne Recipes — from classic comfort to clever twists you’ll want to add to your rotation.
1. Classic Beef Lasagne
You can’t beat the original — it’s the one that started it all.
Ingredients:
- 500g minced beef
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 glass red wine (optional but delicious)
- 50g butter
- 50g plain flour
- 600ml milk
- Fresh lasagne sheets
- 100g grated mozzarella + 50g Parmesan
Method:
- Fry the onion and garlic until soft, then add beef and brown.
- Stir in tomato purée, tomatoes, oregano, and wine. Simmer for 30 minutes.
- In another pan, make a white sauce: melt butter, stir in flour, whisk in milk until smooth.
- Layer sauce, lasagne sheets, and ragù in a baking dish. Top with cheese.
- Bake at 190°C for 40–45 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Tip: A pinch of nutmeg in the white sauce takes it to another level.
2. Spinach and Ricotta Vegetarian Lasagne
Even the meat-eaters won’t miss the beef with this creamy, satisfying version.
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g fresh spinach
- 250g ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 400g passata or tomato sauce
- Fresh lasagne sheets
- 100g mozzarella, grated
Method:
- Sauté garlic in olive oil, then wilt the spinach. Drain and roughly chop.
- Mix spinach with ricotta and egg.
- Layer tomato sauce, lasagne sheets, and the ricotta-spinach mix.
- Top with mozzarella and bake for 30–35 minutes at 190°C until golden.
Shortcut: Use bagged spinach and ready-made tomato sauce for a midweek win.
3. Chicken and Pesto Lasagne
This one feels light, fragrant, and wonderfully different — perfect for any time of year.
Ingredients:
- 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded
- 150g mascarpone
- 3 tbsp green pesto
- 300ml white sauce (shop-bought is fine)
- Fresh lasagne sheets
- 75g mozzarella, grated
Method:
- Mix mascarpone, pesto, and white sauce together.
- Layer a little sauce in your dish, followed by lasagne sheets and chicken.
- Repeat until full, finishing with sauce and mozzarella.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 190°C.
Serve with: Rocket salad and lemon vinaigrette for a refreshing side.
4. Creamy Salmon and Spinach Lasagne
A rich yet delicate twist that’s just as good served warm or cold.
Ingredients:
- 2 salmon fillets, flaked
- 150g smoked salmon (optional)
- 200g spinach
- 500ml white sauce
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Fresh lasagne sheets
- 75g grated cheddar
Method:
- Wilt spinach and squeeze out excess water.
- Stir Dijon mustard into your white sauce.
- Layer spinach, salmon, sauce, and pasta sheets.
- Top with grated cheese and bake at 180°C for 25–30 minutes.
Tip: Half smoked salmon and half fresh gives a lovely balance of richness and freshness.
5. One-Pan Lasagne (Quick Version)
All the flavour of classic lasagne — half the effort and hardly any washing up.
Ingredients:
- 250g minced beef or turkey
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 400g tin chopped tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian herbs
- 6 lasagne sheets, broken into pieces
- 100g ricotta
- 100g mozzarella
Method:
- Brown the meat with onion and garlic.
- Stir in tomatoes and herbs, then add 250ml water.
- Add broken lasagne sheets directly into the pan and simmer until tender.
- Top with spoonfuls of ricotta and mozzarella, cover, and let it melt.
Result: A hearty, bubbling lasagne that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
Final thoughts
Sometimes, the best way to refresh your weekly meals isn’t to find new dishes — it’s to fall back in love with the ones you already make. These lasagne variations prove there’s more than one way to layer comfort and creativity on a plate.
Next time lasagne night rolls around, try one of these twists — who knows, you might just find a new family favourite.
Words, Joanne Brook-Smith
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