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    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Easy Dinners

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna (Freezer Friendly Too!)

    Published: Oct 25, 2017 · Modified: Dec 4, 2019 by Melissa · 31 Comments

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    Photo of Make-Ahead Lasagna

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe, guaranteed!

    In the mood for more lasagna? Check these out: Classic Lasagna Recipe, Easy Slow Cooker Vegetable Lasagna and Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll-ups.

    Photo of Make-Ahead Lasagna

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna

    Few things are more deliciously comforting than a plate full of delicious hearty cheesy lasagna. Truth be told, I didn't have a great lasagna recipe until I tried this one. It's what lasagna dreams are made of. It's rich, saucy, cheesy, simple to put together (thank you canned tomatoes and no-boil noodles), and just all around awesome. This is for sure the best make-ahead and freezer friendly lasagna recipe out there. I can't wait for you to make it!

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe that is also freezer friendly is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe guaranteed!

    This lasagna recipes hails from the new America's Test Kitchen cookbook The Complete Make-Ahead Cookbook: From Appetizers to Desserts 500 Recipes You Can Make in Advance. It's a good one! I love this book because there are 500 recipes you can make ahead of time - 500! Lots are freezer-friendly too. It goes through the process of how to make, store, and then cook each recipe. It's awesome for busy moms.

    I do a lot of my dinner-making at lunch or early afternoon while I only have two little people at home. Once after school time hits, we have homework, karate, chores, Cub Scouts, and more. It's great for me to have a plan for dinner but not have to be actively in the kitchen at that time. The Complete Make-Ahead Cookbook is perfect for that kind of thing. I also love it for planning dinner parties, family functions, and other events where you don't want to be busy in the kitchen right before the meal.

    Not only can you make it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours,  you can freeze it, too. I make a double batch of this recipe in the morning or early afternoon, stick one in the fridge to cook for dinner and wrap one up and stick it in the freezer. Cook once and eat twice! I love having meals in the freezer for busy nights (hello DIY house building) or to have ready for a friend in need. I've delivered many freezer meals to neighbors and friends just when the thought strikes me. It's such a gift for myself and others to have homemade, comforting meals in the freezer for when we need them. It's great for prepping for big crowds, too. In fact, I have tons of family coming into town this weekend (my son is getting baptized on Saturday!), so I'm making 4 pans tonight that we'll cook up tomorrow after the baptism. Hurray for prepping ahead for parties and family gatherings!

    The Complete Make-Ahead Cookbook would make a great gift for you or a friend. Definitely check it out!

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe that is also freezer friendly is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe guaranteed!

    What type of pan do I put lasagna in?

    This recipe makes a big lasagna so make sure you have a 9x13 inch pan. I like to keep these foil pans in my pantry if I'm making a lasagna for the freezer. I don't have to worry about tying up my dishes or getting them back if that lasagna makes it to the home of a friend.

    What should I serve with lasagna?

    This recipe is great for company (it's that good and you can make it ahead of time!). Serve it with some of my favorite no-knead bread and my favorite fall salad (apples, bacon, candied nuts, and shaved Brussel sprouts...so good) and you are ready for company in no time.

    Does fresh basil make a difference in a recipe?

    Fresh basil in this recipe is SO good. Splurge on it if you can, but dried works well, too.

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe that is also freezer friendly is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe guaranteed!

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    Photo of Make-Ahead Lasagna

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna (freezer-friendly too!)


    ★★★★★

    5 from 4 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
    • Yield: Serves 16 1x
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    Description

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe, guaranteed!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Sauce

    • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 onion, chopped fine
    • Salt and pepper
    • 6 garlic cloves, minced
    • 1 pound meatloaf mix OR Italian sausage
    • ¼  cup heavy cream
    • 1 (28-ounce) can tomato puree
    • 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or 1 ½ tablespoons dried

     Lasagna   

    • 12 no-boil lasagna noodles
    • 1 pound whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (4 cups)
    • 24 ounces (3 cups) whole-milk or part-skim ricotta cheese
    • 3 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (1 and ½ cups)
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or 1 ½ tablespoons dried
    • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    1. For the sauce Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add meatloaf mix and cook, breaking up meat with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and simmer until liquid evaporates and only fat remains, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomato puree and tomatoes, bring to simmer, and cook until flavors meld, about 5 minutes. Off heat, stir in basil and season with salt and pepper to taste.
    2. For the lasagna Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, basil, egg, salt, and pepper in bowl.
    3. Spread 1 cup sauce over bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish (avoiding large chunks of meat). Lay 3 noodles in dish, spread ⅓ cup ricotta mixture over each noodle, then top with 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup sauce (in that order). Repeat layering process 2 more times. Top with remaining 3 noodles, remaining sauce, remaining 1 cup mozzarella, and remaining ½ cup Parmesan.
    4. Cover dish tightly with greased aluminum foil, place on foil-lined rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes. Uncover, and continue to bake until spotty brown and bubbling around edges, 25 to 35 minutes. Let casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    To Make Ahead

    • Lasagna, prepared through step 3, can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, covered with aluminum foil, and refrigerated for up to 24 hours or frozen for up to 1 month; if frozen, thaw completely in refrigerator
    • To bake, unwrap lasagna, cover with greased aluminum foil, and bake on foil-lined sheet in 400-degree oven until hot throughout, about 1 hour; remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is golden, about 10 minutes
    • Prep Time: 1 hour
    • Cook Time: 50 min
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Keywords: make ahead lasagna, easy lasagna recipe, easy homemade lasagna, homemade lasagna recipe, best lasagna recipe, best homemade lasagna, easy homemade lasagna, how to make lasagna

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    Try these other amazing pasta recipes:

    • 30 Minute Simple Roasted Tomato and Sausage Pasta
    • One Pot Cheesy Sausage Pasta
    • Skillet Taco Pasta made with ground beef
    • Spinach Bacon Pasta Salad
    • Sausage and Pumpkin Pasta
    • Linguine Rosa with Shrimp
    • Garden Vegetable Pasta
    • Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Baked Pasta

    My family LOVED this make-ahead lasagna and so did every one else I took it to. It's for sure my new go-to lasagna recipe and I know it will be yours, too. Whether you are making it ahead of time, right before dinner, or to put in the freezer, you are going to love having this amazing lasagna recipe in your life.

    Disclosure: America's Test Kitchen sent me a copy of the cookbook to review but I was not paid for my time to write this review or share this recipe. I just genuinely love ATK and love sharing their books with you. I've never had one that I didn't love!

    The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna recipe that is freezer friendly too is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. This will be your go-to lasagna recipe guaranteed!
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    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Tabitha

      May 02, 2022 at 2:32 pm

      I doubled the recipe, and made 4 8x8 trays. 2 for us (1 to eat right away and one to freeze) and 2 frozen for friends who just welcomed a baby. I used 1 lb ground beef, and 1 lb mild Italian sausage. I also used 3 24 is jars of Rao’s Tomato Basil sauce, 2 wasn’t quiet enough. The “Oven Ready” pasta was incredibly easy and worked like a dream. The ricotta mixture was so flavorful! What an easy way to make impressive dinners! Thanks for the recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Lauren

      October 15, 2021 at 6:09 am

      Hi there! This sounds (and looks!) delicious and I am planning to make it here in a few hours for tomorrow’s dinner. Just want to make sure I have this right, I just use uncooked noodles? No need to boil them before? Thank you!! 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 16, 2021 at 7:58 am

        Yep, isn't that the best??

      • Lauren

        October 17, 2021 at 6:24 pm

        It is!! And it was delicious! Thanks so much 🙂

    3. Chrissy

      December 10, 2020 at 4:04 am

      Making this lasagna 24 hours ahead of time does not make the noodles be mushy when you serve it? I'd be afraid they would have absorbed too much sauce Nd gone mushy. I have run into mushy pasta way too often over last few years

      Reply
    4. MIKAILA ROSE CRESPIN

      October 18, 2020 at 10:48 am

      If I make this in Sunday for Dinner on a Monday and only refrigerate it, how long should i heat it up in oven?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 18, 2020 at 12:07 pm

        It'll be actually close to the full cooking time. I'd probably just assemble it and stick it in the fridge and then bake it the full time on Monday.

    5. Megan

      May 06, 2020 at 4:25 pm

      Great make ahead recipe for a crowd!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Natalie Sherman

      November 23, 2019 at 1:29 pm

      So you bake it throughly, cool it & then refrigerate overnight or do you assemble & cook next day? Thx

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 23, 2019 at 1:52 pm

        Assemble and bake the next day! You'll just cook it when you are ready to serve it.

    7. Jaime

      November 19, 2019 at 8:21 am

      I made this last week and froze or in prep for my upcoming adventures in motherhood (I'm for in a month) but I wanted to thaw and bake one now and if we like it, I'll prepare more. Do y'all think 24 hours in the fridge to thaw is ok? Whattt happens if I bake it and the middle may not be all the way thawed?
      Thanks so much!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 19, 2019 at 9:47 am

        It doesn't hurt anything BUT it will take it a bit longer to cook, up to an additional hour if the middle is still frozen.

    8. Amy M. Revenis

      November 18, 2019 at 8:27 pm

      I can’t wait to try this recipe - my grandmother always had two pans of lasagna in the freezer for family get-togethers. I am trying to make some freezer meals for my friend who is getting ready to have her second baby to have on hand when she gets home from the hospital - obviously it is best to thaw completely in the fridge but I am not sure they will be planning their meals two days in advance (2 hours more likely). Are there directions to prepare from frozen? Or to defrost more quickly? Would also be helpful if taking a frozen meal over to a friend or neighbor last minute. Thanks in advance!!!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 19, 2019 at 7:54 am

        That's so thoughtful of you! And yes, sometimes if I don't thaw it over night, I'll stick it in the oven at 300-325 for an a couple hours and then bring the temperature up and cook it as directed. So essentially I'll use the oven to help thaw it quickly and then bake it. Works just great!

    9. Sara

      August 26, 2019 at 8:32 am

      Hello! I’ve read a few recipes that don’t call for no boil noodles and they also do not precook them before assembly; have you any experience with this? I’m wanting to use this recipe but not sure if I need to boil the noodles first. I’m planning to freeze. Thanks!!!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        August 26, 2019 at 11:45 am

        I just use normal noodles and they are fine, you can use no-boil and they will also work. That's the great thing about this recipe, it works great with what you have!

      • Sara

        August 27, 2019 at 6:36 am

        Thanks so much! So I do not need to boil them first? Just assemble and freeze?

      • Melissa

        August 27, 2019 at 7:49 am

        Yes ma'am, no need to boil first, just assemble and freeze.

    10. Cristine

      January 06, 2019 at 6:41 pm

      I’ve made this lasagna (as well as the spinach mushroom version) many many times - it’s absolutely delicious & foolproof...however, it serves at the most 12, not 16; & it takes forever to defrost so be sure to pull it out of your freezer at least two days ahead & leave it out at room temperature before baking it.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        January 07, 2019 at 5:35 pm

        Thanks for the tips and tricks about thawing! That's great info to add.

    11. Lorraine

      December 23, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      Christmas is Tuesday........if I put it together today will it be okay in the fridge till then? I will be too busy Christmas Eve...

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 23, 2018 at 2:24 pm

        Truth be told, I just did that this weekend because it was crazy, so yes, I had it in my fridge for just about 48 hours and it was still great. The pasta might be a bit "bloated" but it wasn't so much that I wouldn't do it again. Still tasted, cut, and cooked up great. So I'm going to say yes, make it today should be just fine until Tuesday because it worked great for me (made it Thursday, cooked it Saturday this weekend). Merry Christmas and happy lasagna making!

    12. Brendah

      December 22, 2018 at 12:02 am

      Can you prepare the recipe with no boil noodles and put in fridge without baking and then bake it the next day.

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 22, 2018 at 7:58 pm

        Yep, it'll be great in the fridge for right around 24 hours, so feel free to make it a day ahead and keep it in the fridge until baking.

    13. Michelle J Kenoyer

      December 02, 2018 at 12:12 am

      Hey there - what if I were to cook it to save a friend in need some time? How do you recommend storing and reheating it once cooked? Thanks in advance--can't wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        December 03, 2018 at 10:59 am

        You can heat individual servings in the microwave or oven really easily! I've found it's easy to reheat servings instead of a whole pan after it's been cooked if that's helpful!

    14. Darlene Begovich

      November 25, 2018 at 1:37 pm

      This recipe sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try it. I need to prepare it two days in advance, so should I freeze it? If so when should I take it out to thaw?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 26, 2018 at 8:57 am

        So it needs to thaw all of the way in the fridge... so it kind of depends on what time of day you are making it. I'd make it day 1 in the morning and throw it in the freezer, then pull it out day 2 at night and stick it in the fridge to thaw, and then bake it day three. Does that make sense? Holler if you need a little more guidance. It's a great recipe! You'll love it!

    15. Heather

      November 15, 2017 at 9:31 am

      An excellent classic lasagna recipe. It's been so long since I've had lasagna, but I've been craving it lately! Love this!

      Reply
    16. Sydney

      October 25, 2017 at 9:33 am

      To freeze it, when you say wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then covered in foil, do you mean plastic wrap tight on the top, or do you need to line the pan with it to wrap it completely? And if it's on top, tight to the lasagna, not just tight across the top of the pan?

      Reply
      • Melissa

        October 26, 2017 at 6:39 am

        I normally wrap the whole thing in plastic wrap and press it down onto the lasagna top too, if that makes sense. My goal is to keep the air out of it so I wrap it well!

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