Easy lasagne for kids
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A great 'all-in-one' meal that freezes well so can be made in bulk and put in the freezer for another day...
- Prep Time 30 mins
- Cook Time 45 mins
- Serves 4
- Difficulty Level Medium
Preparation
- Total Time 1 hr 15 mins
- Preparation Time 30 mins
- Cooking Time 45 mins
- 1 onion
- 1 carrot (large)
- 500g mince
- 400g chopped tomatoes
- 3 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tsp mixed herbs
- 250g lasagne sheets
Cheese sauce
- ¼ onion (optional)
- 40g butter
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 450ml milk
- 100g cheddar cheese, grated
Bolognaise sauce
- Finely chop half an onion and grate half a carrot and cook in a little oil
- When soft add a pack of mince and mix until it's brown all over
- Add a tin of chopped tomatoes, some tomato puree, a little pepper and a generous teaspoon of mixed herbs
Cheese sauce
- Fry quarter of an onion (if using) in some butter or margarine, add another lump of margarine and when melted add a generous tablespoon of plain flour and mix it in
- Add a small amount of milk and mix, add some more and mix (it's really easy with a balloon whisk!) - you should end up using about a pint of milk and as it gets hot it will thicken up (keep stirring as it does)
- Then add a big handful of grated cheddar cheese to make it a cheese sauce
Put together
- Put a layer of bolognaise in an oven dish - cover with a layer of dry lasagne (you can break it up to make it fit!)
- Add another layer of bolognaise and dribble some cheese sauce on top - more dry lasagne
- Do the same again (use all the bolognaise) and after the last layer of the lasagne, you add the remains of the cheese sauce and then sprinkle with grated cheese
You will need
Lasagne dish - Suitable for both cooking and serving, this durable and versatile set of two (includes two diffent sizes) will take your delicious lasagne from oven to the table. You can find it here at Amazon in various colours.
Whisk - This smart gadget comes with three separate whisks that can be stuck together and used as a balloon whisk, too. See more details here at Amazon.
Saucepan – this sturdy, non-stick saucepan measures 20cm across and is ideal for cooking hearty dishes – see more details here at Wilko.
Tips
Try to buy mince with 10% rather than 20% fat if you can - you could also use less mince and add more tomatoes.
Kids will love helping you layer the prepared ingredients before cooking. They could also grate the cheese for you and help you add it at the right moments.
Variations
- If you want to get more vegetables into the children, try cutting up courgette, pepper and aubergine and fry them with the onion as you make the bolognaise sauce
- Veggie Variation: To make yummy vegetable lasagne, make up this roasted vegetable sauce and use this instead of the bolognaise sauce in the recipe above, use Quorn mince in the recipe above (don't brown)
- Try this delicious vegetable lasagne recipe from Amanda Grant
- Or try this yummy spinach and mushroom lasagne recipe
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Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ★★ 8 ratingsRate this recipe
Polly L(45)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
A total go-to for me. I add mushroom, courgette & aubergine to make it a bit healthier.
Kevin M(128)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
First try at lasagna and it went down well with two fussy kids and their mum...
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2
I won't be making this recipe again. First time making a lasagne and honestly preferred store bought. This lasagne was very dry and tasteless.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
A brilliant recipe - can be eaten on its own or, if you're greedy like us, with garlic bread and coleslaw. Freezes really well too.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Made the veg sauce and used quorn - yum
DUNCAN B(4)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Excelled myself with this recipe. Very tasty and went down well with young and old alike.
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 5
Lovely Lasagne, have made several times and each time it's perfect!
Guest
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 4
I like this recipe but I add finely sliced celery which cooks down well and sliced mushroom. Its a good idea to bulk cook the mince when making lasagne. The mince sauce can be frozen in portions for a quick spag bol and a spare lasagne for the freezer.
Guest
This may not be the fanciest recipe for lasagne but it tastes really good. And both my 1 year old and 3 year old will eat it, which is the main thing and much better for them than a shop brought version. Easy to make too.
Guest
God I LOVE the Internet. Anything can turn into an argument, even a lasagna recipe.
Guest
You can also use fat-free fromage frais instead of white sauce for a lower fat version.
Guest
Great recipe, i added a bit of red wine in with my meat when browning the mince. Also to the person who left the negative comment there is not need to be nasty over this, and just because your italian don't give you the right to leave such nasty comment. Each to their own i say. Use this as a guide and add things as you wish to make it to your taste.
Guest
How much salt should we add?
Guest
thankyou so much for this recipe, i was afraid to try lasagne before in case i made a mess of it, this is a real un-frilled recipe without all the added stuff other recipes call for, it tastes fantastic :) :) :)
Daniella R(23)
Im Italian and im going to try it with the Soup!!
Guest
I had never thought of using condensed soup. Brilliant idea Linda. I might try a chicken lasagne tomorrow and try chicken soup, although mushroom might work well with chicken as well.. Hmmmm, tasty conundrum :)
Guest
Really simple but effective recipe, can't believe anyone would criticise this. I add a bit of nutmeg and whatever (dry) herbs I have at the time (oregano works) and drain the fat off the mince to make it a bit healthier before adding the tomatoes. I also use wholewheat lasagna (if I can find it),the kids won't notice.
Guest
Brava Hannah g
Guest
Oh wow so you're Italian Francesca, so what?! Maybe the woman who used mushroom soup has a child, family member or herself that can't have cheese, maybe you never thought of that because you just had an inappropriate and ignorant fit about a Lasagne instead, sure don't cut corners when you are home all day and have the time, but when you're a working Mother you tend to stick to the quick and easy, it's not about being LAZY it's about having the TIME. Everyone has their own tastes, their own idea's would you say the same to a qualified chef when they put their own twist's on things. No I highly doubt it, you'd more than likely be told to mind your own and deal with it!
Guest
I always pop in a couple of bay leaves when making the bolognaise, and would usually use 2 tins of tomatoes, mushrooms, and some extra tomatoe paste, plus a dash of worcester sauce. I grate in the carrot as I don't usually have time to cut it up really small. I make the bechamel sauce using Delia Smith's all-in-one sauce (its on her website) and the easiest sauce to make, season, and grate in some nutmeg. Always put a good layer of bechamel on top of the lasagna sheets, then bolgnaise on top, and I put cheese on just the top layer. Yum, Yum. Can't stand shop-made lasagna.
Guest
Prob not to every ones taste but they are just trying to be helpful. No need for negative comments
Guest
Okay will give it ago next time :-) thanks!
Guest
make sure you cover pasta in either the meat or sauce will stop it tasting undercooked.
Guest
My pasta sheets were too hard I left in for about 55 mins :-( . Should I have left it in longer ? ?
Guest
When making lasagne I always soak the pasta sheets first, find that they cook better, and also add an oxo cube to sauce for extra taste
Guest
Lol Francesca D, its not how Mumma used to make!
Guest
This has to be the worst and most bland recipe for Lasagne I have ever seen and as for the all the comments saying this is delicious etc. and what on earth are you thinking using mushroom soup instead of making the bechamel. I am sorry but if you are going to make lasagne then at least make it properly why always take the lazy option. Anyway before you all bombard me with negative comments, I am Italian so I know what I am talking about.
Guest
Tried this was really simple to make and YUMMY :P
Guest
I made this for tea tonight, it was lovely & i even added some lazy garlic into it, the only downside of it was i felt the pasta wasnt cooked enough & i had it in for about an hour :( xox
Guest
Instead of making the white sauce I use a tin of condensed mushroom soup watered down to resemble a thick sauce. It's really quick and easy and makes the lasagne taste delicious. I also use the fresh pasta sheets from chilled section of supermarket as its easy to cut to required shape and tastes so much better than the hard packet stuff.
Guest
I made this the other night and the whole family loved it and i will defintaly be cooking this again.
Guest
just made a home made lasagne and all the family loved it they said it tasted better than an frozen shop lasagne
Guest
Green lentils, precooked/tinned, make a great addition to lasagne. You can substitute them for meat in any proportion, including all of it. You can also use other types of minced meat not just beef. Try chicken, turkey or pork for a change.
Guest
To freeze a whole lasagne make in a freezeable container, like a deep roasting tin, preferably non-stick. Freeze solid after cooling completely. Remove from tin & wrap well, labelled with tin you used as well as the date! I would defrost in the freezer as the edges tend to over cook before the middle is hot when you try it from frozen. Little portions can be done from frozen more easily. Remove your packaging before you defrost!!! If you are making a batch specifically for freezing you don't have to cook it first. Just layer it up & freeze! Don't forget to add extra cooking time to label.
Guest
I made this for dinner tonight and it was yummy! I used a whole onion and a whole carrot. I also added 2 cloves of crushed garlic. Some diced red, green and yellow peppers (would of added mushrooms if i had them) I also added small teaspoon of whole grain mustard into the cheese sauce. Tasted great-i will def be making again and not buying lasagen anymore!
Guest
I have made this lovely dish and it was the most delicious dish I have ever cooked!as I am really useless in kitchen. My 2 year old and my family who are also fussy loved it. The only thing I did was I have boiled the lasagne sheets and it was soft when I took it out of the oven rather than tasted roberry.
Guest
Brilliant! Really easy to make and tassted so much better than Ragu!! I also sliced some tomato and put it on top.
Guest
I made this tonight, its great and so easy to make. I added courgette, mushrooms and a clove of garlic, the whole family enjoyed it including my 6 year old who is very fussy
Guest
Both of my children loved this lasagne, neither of them commented on the mushrooms and the corgette that I put in it other than to say that they were delicious. Instead of the cheese sauce I used a cream sauce made with flour, milk and butter and my husband said that it was the best lasagne he had ever tasted. This will be a firm favourite in my house for many years to come I am sure.
Guest
Hi, made this the other day and although hubby will not eat it, my two daughters aged 8 and 6 loved it. Normally, they really struggle with pasta, but this was a great hit. Looking forward to making it again for them.
joanne s(382)
Made this for dinner tonight, there is enough to feed us again tomorrow with garlic bread which is always good for the purse strings! Hubby and our 5 and 4 year olds loved it. I added half a bag of frozen mediterrean veggies (£1 from Iceland) along with some fresh things i had this was a good shortcut! Will definitely make this again.
Guest
for freezing i put it in a foil contanior so goes straight to the oven i get them out of the pound shop looj like takeaway tubs
Guest
I made this tonight and added some mushrooms, garlic and an Oxo cube and changed the mixed herbs for Oregano and it was lovely!! I wouldnt have known where to start so used this for inspiration and will be making this regularly. We all loved it.
Guest
Fab recipe - everyone liked it including my 18 month old daughter! Thanks, will definitely use again :D
Guest
Having made only disaster lasagne before I decided to try this one out today. It was yummy! I used the roasted veg sauce (which I wizzed) and the children ate it without moaning about eating their vegetables. Will definitely use again and am going to use the roasted veg sauce with pasta.
karen c(56)
you can just freeze it in the dish its made in if its freezer proof, then defrost and warm from there. Or, I used to portion up for my little girl and put in a square plastic tub for the freezer, great for sending to childminders for lunch. Just need to make sure its not too sloppy!
sally c(13)
I often make my own lasagne, just because I don't east cheese, so I have no choice if I fancy a lasagne! But didn't know I could freeze it.... has anyone frozen a full lasagne? And if so, what container would be suitable? I cook my lasagnes in a glass rectangular dish, but presumably I'd have to transfer to some sort of plastic container to freeze it? Sounds a bit messy to me!!
Guest
My first from scratch lasange was a huge success, my 5 year old loved it and my 9 year old who isn't a big fan said it was the best he has ever had. Think i need to tweek my white sauce but practice makes perfect.
Guest
I made this today and added mushrooms, courgette, oxo cube, worcestershire sauce to the bolognaise sauce and added soem sliced tomatoes to the topping. It was so easy to make and my whole family loved it. It was the best lasagne that I have made. Will def. make this again.
Guest
This went down a treat with the whole family, fussy hubby, 3 year old and 1 year old - they all loved it and I felt proud I had made it all myself :) Will be making it again next week!
Guest
hi yes just tried it this afternoon and my son and i had it and i do have to admit it was absolutely delicious - the best meal i have had in ages!!
Guest
An easier cheese sauce is: 1 big tub of half fat creme fraiche mixed with a block of grated cheedar! That's it! You can stick it in lasagne or any recipe that involves putting it in the oven like canneloni, moussaka etc. A lot less faffing about and its really delish!
Guest
I cooked this for dinner last night and it really was lovely. I've only ever made Lasagne once before and it was such a disaster I vowed never to make another! However, I thought I would give this a go and I'm so glad I did! It turned out so much nicer than shop bought Lasagne! I put in two tins of chopped tomaotes added grated carrot and also mushrooms, red pepper and courgettes. Will definately be making this again! Thanks.
Guest
I've only done the veggie version and it is absolutely delicious, far better than any ready meal. Now a firm favourite in our house! Highly recommended!
Guest
partner said it was the best lasagne he had ever had :D nxt time im going to bung afew more bits in and use less mince
Guest
ive started making this myself but i add 2 cloves of garlic,2 x bay leaves, garlic salt, 2 oxo cubes, tomato sauce, any tom salsa i have in the cupboard and tomato puree. i am experimenting as i go along, whatever i have in the cupboard i put in it.
Guest
Yes tried this out- except I added some mushrooms, a bit of worcester sauce and red wine to the bolognese sauce. I also grated some parmesan cheese into the cheese sauce. It turned out nice.
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