Christmas Lasagna: an Italian Sausage Lasagna Recipe (2024)

This Christmas Lasagna is packed with so much flavor thanks to the Italian sausage, bell peppers, basil, and the blend of 3 kinds of cheese! It’s my family’s favorite sausage lasagna, and I know it will be your family’s, too!

This Grape Salad is a fun and festive side dish to serve alongside this lasagna.

Christmas Lasagna

Christmas will be here before you know it and so will holiday guests. Does it make you nervous or excited? Maybe a little of both? Do you know what you will be cooking to feed them?

It can be a little stressful to find a recipe large enough to feed everyone as well a recipe that everyone will actually eat. That’s right where this recipe comes in. I’ve got a recipe for you that will leave you wanting more.

Today I have an easy and festive lasagna recipe to share with you that will feed a crowd: Sausage and peppers Holiday Lasagna. I love the combination of hot Italian sausage and peppers; it’s comforting, livens the taste buds, and warms the soul on a winter’s day. That’s why those recipe elements work so beautifully in this Italian Sausage Lasagna recipe.

I like making this homemade lasagna recipe when I have guests in town because it makes a TON of food, they’re easy to throw together, and you can prep them ahead of time. All you need is a leafy salad and some garlic bread or garlic cheese breadsticks and you’ve got yourself a well-rounded meal!

To make this sausage lasagna festive, I used some of the chopped red and green bell peppers to make a Christmas tree. You can use whatever colored bell peppers you can find or have on hand. Add a little Christmas tree on this traditional lasagna to make this Italian recipe a super fun and festive dinner.

Sometimes, my family does an Italian themed Christmas Eve dinner and this recipe is my go-to! Try it out and see how much everyone loves this Italian Sausage Lasagna!

Italian Sausage Lasagna Recipe Questions Answered:

How many layers should a lasagna have?

There should be at least 3 layers in your lasagna. After that, it is up to you. The more layers the better I say. However, be careful that you have a pan deep enough to hold that much food!

What is lasagna called in Italy?

The Italian name for noodles used in lasagna is Lasagne. In Italy, lasagna is actually known as the pot the food is cooked in.

Is lasagna really Italian?

In Italy, lasagna is not typically an everyday meal. In fact, lasagna did not originally come from Italy. It can be traced all the way back to Ancient Greece. The word lasagna comes from the Greek word Laganon which was the first known form of pasta.

How to make Christmas Lasagna:

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees and then boil the lasagna noodles as directed. Drain and set aside.
Save ⅓ of each bell pepper for the Christmas tree design but cut the remaining parts of the bell pepper.
In a skillet brown the sausage for 2 minutes and then add in the bell peppers, onions, and garlic powder. Continue baking until the sausage is browned and cooked through.
Next, use a mixer to beat the cream cheese for 1 minute.
Then add the milk in a steady stream to combine.
Now, place the cream cheese in another bowl and mix on low speed until creamy.
Next, in another bowl combine the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Reserve 1 ½ cups and set aside. Next, add the remaining cheese and cream cheese mixture and until the cheese is evenly distributed.
Now drain the fat from the sausage mixture and stir in the sauce water, and basil until combined. Next, spread ⅓ of the sausage and sauce mixture into the bottom of a pan. Layer with 3 noodles and half the cream cheese mixture. Repeat layering process until complete.
Next, using the bell peppers create a Christmas tree design on the top of the lasagna.
Finally, bake for 45 minutes. Then remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Cook’s Note – Italian Sausage Lasagna:

The holidays can be a busy time, to make things easier prep the lasagna in the morning and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it.
This lasagna also freezes well. Just defrost it in the refrigerator overnight and then add 20-30 minutes of cooking time to the cooking time in the instructions below.

Disclosure:This post for Christmas Lasagna: a Sausage Lasagna Recipe includes affiliate links. See the rest of Food Folks and Fun’sdisclosure policyhere.

Cook’s Tools – Italian Sausage Lasagna Recipe:

covered skillet
wooden spoon
pasta pot
handheld mixer
mixing bowls
lasagna pan

4.82 from 11 votes

Italian Sausage Lasagna Recipe

Author Jillian - a Food, Folks and Fun original!

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

12 people

This Christmas Lasagna is packed with so much flavor thanks to the Italian sausage, bell peppers, basil, and the blend of 3 kinds of cheese! It's my family's favorite sausage lasagna, and I know it will be your family's, too!

Ingredients

▢ 1 large red bell pepper
▢ 1 large green bell pepper
▢ 12 lasagna noodles
▢ 1 pound hot Italian sausage
▢ 1 large yellow onion diced
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 16 ounces cream cheese softened
▢ ⅔ cup milk
▢ ½ cup water
▢ ½ cup fresh basil leaves chopped
▢ 2 cups mozzarella cheese divided
▢ 1 cup Parmesan cheese divided
▢ 24-ounce jar pasta sauce

Instructions

Move oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Boil the lasagna as per the package instructions, drain and set aside.
If you’re making the Christmas tree design on top of your lasagna as I did, then reserve 1/3 of each bell pepper. Dice the remaining parts of the bell peppers, and set aside.
In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat brown the sausage for 2 minutes, breaking chunks apart with the back of a wooden spoon. Add in the diced bell peppers, onions, and garlic powder and cook until the sausage is browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
While the sausage is cooking, use a mixer to beat the cream cheese for 1 minute.
With the mixer on low, add the milk in a steady stream to combine.
Increase mixer speed to medium and continue to mix until light and creamy and there are no more lumps, about 2-3 minutes.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and lightly toss with your fingers. Reserve 1-1/2 cups (half of the cheese), and set aside. Add the remaining cheese to cream cheese mixture and mix until the cheese is evenly distributed.
Drain the fat from the sausage mixture, and stir in the sauce, water, and basil until combined. Spread ⅓ of the sausage and sauce mixture into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan; layer with 3 noodles and half the cream cheese mixture. Add another layer of 3 noodles, then half the remaining sausage mixture, followed by 3 more noodles. Layer the remaining cream cheese mixture, the last 3 noodles, sausage mixture and reserved 1½ cups of cheese. Use the reserved bell peppers to make your Christmas tree design.
Cover the lasagna with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let the lasagna cool for 15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped basil.

Nutrition

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This Christmas Lasagna recipe first appeared on FFF on December 11, 2013. I’ve recently updated the pictures, and you can see some of the originals below.

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Jillian

I’m Jillian, the creator behind Food Folks and Fun. I have over 30 years of experience cooking for others. There’s nothing I love more than cooking for my family. Food is love, and cooking isn’t just putting a meal on a plate: It’s putting a little part of myself into that meal.

Cute idea to make a christmas tree on the lasagna!
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Lasagna is my favorite dish of all time 🙂 I can eat it everyday
Reply
Christmas lasagna, how fun! I love going with non-traditional fare for some holidays… and this looks delicious!
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Lasagna is such a great classic comfort dish! Always good for the season and LOVE the little tree you did in the middle!!
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Lasagna is so delicious and a surprise to the family when served. The presentation to this dish is so festive.
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Oh My Gosh Finally! Thank you Thank you! best Christmas gift to us ever!
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I must admit I have never thought of lasagne as a Christmas dish. But, when it comes to feeding the crowds it is perfect and delicious. I am in love with the way you are decorated the top of it.
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YUM! I love this lasagna!
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1. I’m so glad you loved the recipe!
  Reply
I’ve been looking for something new to make Christmas Eve and not I’m totally making your lasagna. Will make it ahead of time this weekend -great recipe!
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Very festive, and very tasty! Thanks for sharing!
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Jillian Wade | Food Folks and Fun is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This costs you nothing, but it helps keep this blog running on butter…lots of butter!

Christmas Lasagna: an Italian Sausage Lasagna Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between northern and southern Italian lasagna? ›

In southern Italy lasagna is generally made with dried sheets of pasta layered with rich meat ragú, ricotta and mozzarella. In the north, especially in Bologna, the most popular version of lasagna features fresh egg pasta colored green with spinach and layered with ragú, bechamel and Parmigiano Reggiano.

Find Out More ›

What can I add to my lasagna to make it taste better? ›

Sugar: Two tablespoons of white sugar add subtle sweetness and enhance the flavor of the sauce. Spices and seasonings: This lasagna recipe is flavored with fresh parsley, dried basil leaves, salt, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and black pepper. Lasagna noodles: Use store-bought or homemade lasagna noodles.

How do you layer lasagna so it doesn't fall apart? ›

In a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) glass baking dish, add a layer of bolognese to the bottom. Top with noodles, then spread a layer of the ricotta mixture on top. Repeat with another layer of bolognese, noodles, ricotta, noodles, bolognese, then top with mozzarella and additional Parmesan.

See Details ›

Do you put cheese on every layer of lasagna? ›

Depends on how you feel about cheese. Personally, I think lasagna should be a stretchy, gooey, cheesy mess, so I put cheese everywhere it will fit. I personally do thin layers of tomato, herb and garlic meat sauce layer followed by a smearing of homemade bechamel cheese sauce then lasagne sheet…

What cheese is best on top of lasagne? ›

We love whole milk ricotta, mascarpone, parmesan, mozzarella, and fontina cheese. While ricotta is a staple in lasagna, combining it with the mascarpone creates the absolute best cheese filling. The result is a rich, creamy layer that perfectly complements the sauce and noodles.

Learn More Now ›

What temperature do you bake lasagna at? ›

Turn oven at 400 degrees. Cover the lasagna with a foil paper making a tent so the mozzarella won't stick to the foil. Check temperature in the center of lasagna, making sure it reads 150-160 degrees.

Read On ›

How long should you let lasagna rest before cutting? ›

When the lasagna is ready it is difficult to resist the temptation to immediately eat it, but be careful because even in this case you have to be a little patient. Wait for your lasagna to rest for about 20 minutes once it is baked, in this way it will not fall apart when cut.

Read On ›

What is the difference between northern Italian food and southern Italian food? ›

The food journalist Waverley Root wrote of Italy's “gastronomic Mason-Dixon line,” dividing the cuisines of the wealthier and more industrial north from those of the poorer and more agrarian south. Richer meats and coffee are more prevalent in the north, while the south leans toward fish, pasta, and vegetables.

Get More Info Here ›

How do the pastas made in northern Italy differ from those served in southern Italy? ›

In the North of Italy, pasta has a large surface area and is often served with butter and Alpine cheese. Conversely, in the South of Italy, pasta is ridged and is served with tomatoes, seafood, or meat.

Get More Info ›

What is the difference between northern and southern Italy? ›

Northern Italy, with its mountains and abundant greenery, is a stark contrast to Southern Italy's vast plains, incredible coastline, and lush green forests. The varied landscapes, along with the cities and cultures, reflect these distinctions, making them unique.

Read The Full Story ›

What region of Italy has the best lasagna? ›

Bologna-style Lasagna: In the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Bologna is considered the birthplace of lasagna. The classic Bolognese lasagna is made with flat pasta sheets, a hearty meat sauce, and a rich béchamel sauce.

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