Christmas Eve Lasagna for Two
Welcome to Kelly’s Kitchen! I hadn’t realized this, but it’s become a tradition in the US to make Christmas Eve Lasagna. While today’s Easy Lasagna recipe is perfect for two, it will make enough for four – you might have to kiss goodbye any leftovers, though – cue the sad trombone. Lasagna is the perfect Christmas Eve dinner, it’s an easy casserole that is so different than the flavors we all expect for Christmas dinner. It’s casual, yet we can make it festive like I have done with this recipe by adding pesto. The humble hominess of Lasagna is loving and comforting, rich and warm like a tender hug – perfect for the holidays. Let’s get right to it!
Christmas Eve Lasagna for Two
Christmas Eve Lasagna Ingredients
Drizzle of Olive Oil
1 lb. Ground Italian Sausage
1/2 Onion, diced
1/2 Jar Tomato Sauce (about 10 oz.)
1 14.5-oz. can Diced Tomatoes
1/4 cup Chopped Calabrian Peppers
Kosher Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
7 oz. Ricotta (about 1/2 of a 15-oz. container)
1.25 cups Grated Fontina Cheese
1/4 cup Grated Parmesan
1/4 cup Fresh Pesto
Fresh Lasagna Noodles or No Cook Dried Lasagna Noodles
4-6 oz. Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
Chopped Fresh Parsley, for garnish
How to Prepare Christmas Eve Lasagna
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brown the sausage in a skillet, with a drizzle of olive oil, over medium heat with diced onion. When the sausage is browned and cooked through, add half a jar of tomato sauce. Then add a can of diced tomatoes. Add 1/4 cup of chopped Calabrian peppers. Stir this together and let it simmer over medium/medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Season with Kosher salt and black pepper to taste.
Step 2
In a small bowl, mix together 7 ounces of ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup of the grated Fontina, and 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Season with a few cranks of fresh cracked black pepper and a pinch of Kosher salt. Stir until well combined and set aside.
Step 3
In an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking dish, spoon and spread enough sauce in the dish to cover the bottom. Lay noodles or a lasagna sheet over the sauce. Then, ladle more sauce over the noodle layer.
Step 4
Dollop the ricotta mixture on top of the sauce, covering it with the ricotta mix, this will be the only layer of ricotta, so use it all.
Step 5
Evenly dot the top of the ricotta with pesto.
Step 6
Lay another single layer of noodles on top of the pesto and ricotta.
Step 7
Lay the fresh mozzarella slices on top of the noodle layer. Then cover the entire top with the remaining cup of grated Fontina.
Step 8
Cover the baking dish and place the whole dish on a sheet tray for easier handling. Bake the Easy Lasagna for 20-30 minutes until the sauce bubbles up around the edges and the cheese melts. Then remove the cover and continue baking for another 15 minutes until the cheese begins to develop golden brown spotting. If needed, in the last 5 minutes, switch the oven to broil to let the cheese get browned.
Step 9
Remove the lasagna from the oven, and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then, sprinkle the top with chopped fresh parsley or fresh basil.
With all of the business of the holiday season, it’s great to have a recipe like Christmas Eve Lasagna – it’s easy, comforting, and delicious! I hope you give this recipe a try, maybe it will become a new Christmas Eve tradition for you! Take care, be well, and happy holidays! xo Kelly
Key Ingredients and Equipment
1. OXO Box Grater 2. OXO Nylon Ladle 3. Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven 4. Staub Casserole Baking Set 5. Sheet Pan Set
Be sure to visit Beth’s Amazon Storefront where you will find her collections of household items for the kitchen, tabletop, home decor, and so much more!
Christmas Eve Lasagna for Two Recipe
make a comment