Classic Italian Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce

If you’re looking for the BEST Classic Lasagna Bolognese recipe straight from Italy, this is the recipe for you. It is loaded with perfectly cooked lasagna pasta, homemade bolognese and béchamel sauce, mozzarella, and Parmigiano cheeses for an unbelievable classic Italian lasagna recipe!

Also, try Authentic Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce. See this post for What to Serve with Lasagna (50 Best Side Dishes).

This is a classic Italian lasagna recipe (lasagne al forno) that my Italian family has made for generations. I know you will love it too! I wrote a story about my love for lasagna here: Sunday Story: Lasagna Love.

You may also want to try these recipes: Authentic Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna (Vegetarian), Polpette Con Sugo (Italian meatballs in tomato sauce), and BEST Italian Beef Short Rib Ragu and Baked Eggplant Slices Recipe with Ricotta Cheese.

Ingredients for Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce

Lasagna

• 1 Recipe for Classic Italian Ragu (Meat Sauce)
• Lasagna pasta noodles (or make your own favorite Homemade Pasta Recipe)
• Freshly grated parmigiano cheese

Bechamel Sauce

• Butter unsalted
• All-purpose flour all-purpose
• Milk
• Parmigiano 
• Nutmeg
• Salt

Exact measurements on the recipe card

Classic Italian Lasagna Bolognese Recipe

Lasagna Bolognese includes only fresh egg pasta, Bolognese ragù (slow-cooked meat sauce), creamy béchamel (white sauce), and plenty of grated Parmigiano cheese.

The result is a melt-in-your-mouth, creamy, decadent, and satisfying lasagna that is distinct in Italian-style lasagna recipes.

When you make this recipe you will feel like you are dining at an Italian trattoria on the streets of Italy.

This is a recipe loved by all and brings me back to my home in Italy!

This lasagna recipe is my Nonna Laura's recipe that I grew up eating at large tables filled with family, love, and loud laughter. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Honestly, it is the BEST lasagna recipe!

What is the difference between Lasagna and Lasagna Bolognese?

In short, one uses ricotta, and the other uses bechamel sauce. Instead of thick layers of ricotta and mozzarella cheese, lasagne alla bolognese features delicate layers of pasta noodles coated in a luxurious mix of hearty ragù bolognese (slow-cooked meat sauce) and creamy béchamel (white sauce).

This authentic Italian Lasagna Bolognese recipe is different from the most common version, commonly found in the United States, made with layers of meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese. The Italian version is lighter and more wholesome, in my opinion.

Both meat sauce and grated Parmigiano cheese are common in both recipes. Using a homemade ragu meat sauce makes all the difference for this classic lasagna bolognese recipe.

The difference between classic lasagna and lasagna Bolognese is Classic Lasagna mixes the meat sauce with fresh ricotta while the Bolognese version uses béchamel to bind the filling.

Both recipes come from two famous Italian recipes. Lasagna Bolognese comes from the city of Bologna and Classic Lasagna is said to originate in Naples. There is still some debate as to where exactly lasagna bolognese originates, but those are the most common speculations among most Italians!

Classic Italian Lasagna Ingredients

Let's look at each component of this Lasagna Bolognese Recipe to find out what makes it different:

What is Italian Ragu Sauce?

Ragu is a meat-based sauce that includes finely chopped vegetables, and ground meat and is cooked slowly with high-quality crushed tomato as a base. See this post for my recommendations on canned tomatoes.

For this recipe, I use my Nonna's tried and true RAGU RECIPE that we eat weekly with pasta. A certain magic happens as the ground beef and aromatic vegetables slowly cook down tomato sauce in this classic ragu recipe. Your house will smell amazing with this is cooking.

The homemade ragu sauce stewed with rich tomatoes adds that Italian flavor you crave when seeking a quality lasagna recipe.

STORING: You can make store homemade ragu sauce in an airtight container for 3 days in the fridge OR freeze it for several months.

What is Bechamel Sauce?

 Béchamel sauce (besciamella in Italian) has French origin and has become part of Italian culinary tradition for a very long time.

It is a smooth, creamy white sauce made with just 3 ingredients: flour, hot milk, and butter.

If you want to make it the true Italian way, you also add a pinch of nutmeg.

How Do You Know When Your Bechamel is Done?

Know your béchamel is done: when it is thick enough it will “coat the back of a wooden spoon,” which means dip your spoon into the béchamel and then draw a finger through the coated spoon.

The sauce shouldn't run together and you should see a clean line. The sauce will wipe clean and leave an open space.

The béchamel is done and ready when it sticks to the spoon like in this photo of the spoon on the pot of bechamel.

This is a recipe my mamma taught me years ago. It is so simple and traditional. I know you will love it.

This is the key component that sets Italian Lasagna Bolognese apart from other versions of lasagne.

STORING Bechamel Sauce: You can make and store bechamel for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cheese(s)

Use Freshly Grated Parmigiano and Mozzarella to make your Lasagna Bolognese.

Don't use anything other than the real stuff (also, grate it yourself!) OR, you chance the risk of getting a gloppy goopy mess. You can read my article about Why you Should Grate your Own Cheese.

Some people use cottage cheese in lasagna- you can do this, but it is not the authentic Italian way to make lasagna.

If you want a lasagna recipe with ricotta cheese make: Authentic Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce.

Can you Make Lasagna Ahead of Time?

YES!! You can make it ahead of time.

You can make it a few hours earlier, for example early in the morning to bake them for lunch, but even the evening before.

In this case, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator.

When you want to cook it, leave it at room temperature for half an hour: in the meantime, preheat the oven.

How to Freeze Lasagna

You can freeze lasagna bolognese uncooked and cooked, whole or in pieces. In both cases, you will get great results by following these tips.

Freezing Uncooked Lasagna:

Assemble your lasagna in an oven-safe dish and cover it generously with plastic wrap.

When ready to eat, defrost the lasagna the night before so it thaws evenly.

If pressed for time, you can pull the lasagna straight from the freezer and add about 30 minutes to the cooking time. Cover your lasagna until the last 10 minutes so you don't overcook the top.

Freezing Cooked Lasagna:

If you have any cooked lasagna that is leftover, you can freeze it in portions by wrapping individual slices in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. Make sure to let the lasagna cool before freezing.

When you want to reheat it, defrost a few hours ahead then reheat in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

TIP: When reheating lasagna in the oven cover the surface with aluminum foil to prevent it from cooking the top of the lasagna even more.

Have you checked out my NEW CBE PRODUCTS? Take a look at the 2-in-1 cutting and charcuterie board, gorgeous apron, and unique pasta server that you absolutely need. The wood products are all handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. They make great gifts as well!

The BEST Lasagna Bolognese! Layers of flat lasagna noodles baked with alternating layers of Bolognese sauce, bechamel, and Parmigiano cheese.

Make sure to leave a ⭐️star rating on the recipe card and comment below if you make the recipe. I love to connect with you through my recipes.

I would love for you to tag me on Instagram @cucinabyelena so I can see your delicious Italian recipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Pinterest.

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