The Best Make-Ahead Lasagnarecipe is made with a rich sausage sauce and loads of cheese. It’s also freezer-friendly and guaranteed to become your go-to lasagna recipe!

Make-ahead lasagna baked in a white 9 by 13 inch pan.

Few things are more deliciously comforting than a plate full of delicious hearty cheesy lasagna. And this lasagna recipe is what dreams are made of. It’s rich, saucy, cheesy, and easy to put together.

This lasagna recipe comes from America’s Test Kitchen cookbookThe Complete Make-Ahead Cookbook. I love this book because there are 500 recipes you can make ahead of time and many of them are freezer-friendly (just like this one).

Two pieces of The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna on white plates next to the rest of the lasagna in a 9 by 13 inch white enamel pan with a blue rim.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s theperfect classic lasagnarecipe.
Easy to make for guestsbecause it can be made ahead of time (thanks to canned tomatoes and no-boil lasagna noodles).
It’sgreat to make for bringing a meal to a friendin need.

Recipe Ingredients

Extra-virgin olive oil:For sauteing the onion before adding the ground meat.
Onion
Garlic:Can use minced garlic in a jar to save yourself some time mincing.
Italian sausage: Or you could use a meatloaf mix.
Heavy cream
Tomato puree
Diced tomatoes
Fresh basil:Can use dried basil but fresh is best.
No-boil lasagna noodles:Barilla makes great ones called “Oven Ready.”
Mozzarella cheese
Ricotta cheese
Parmesan cheese
Egg
Salt and pepper

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make The Best Make-Ahead Lasagna

Step #1.Cook onions and garlic in olive oil. Add meat, cook until browned, then stir in cream and tomatoes. Simmer, season with basil, salt, and pepper.

Step #2.In a bowl, mix ricotta, Parmesan, basil, egg, salt, and pepper.

Step #3.Layer sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and repeat 2 more times. Top with the remaining sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.

Step #4.Cover with greased foil, bake at 400°F for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 25-35 minutes until bubbly. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe FAQs

What type of pan do I put lasagna in?

This recipe makes a big lasagna so make sure you have a 9×13 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 I take the lasagna to a friend.

How do I freeze this make-ahead lasagna?

Follow the recipe through assembly and then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then cover it in aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to a month. Be sure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator before baking it according to the recipe card below.

Does fresh basil make a difference in a recipe?

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

Top view of the Best Make-Ahead Lasagna after baking in a white enamel pan with blue rim.

Expert Tips

Make a double batch– one to bake in the next day and one to freeze to make in a few weeks. Cook once and eat twice!
Use one of thesefoil pansif you are giving away this lasagna or don’t want to tie up one of your pans.
You can substitute cottage cheese for the ricotta cheeseif you want to add some extra protein to this lasagna.
Let the sauce simmer longerfor aricher flavor.
When making ahead,wrap the lasagna tightly in plastic wrap and foilto prevent freezer burn.

A piece of lasagna being removed by a thin metal spatula.

How to Store Make-Ahead Lasagna

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.Follow the recipe through assembly and then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and then cover it in aluminum foil.It can be frozen for up to a month. Be sure to thaw it completely in the refrigerator before baking it according to the recipe card below.