Posted May 7th, 2026

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Cheesy Sunday Night Lasagna

This cheesy Sunday night lasagna is one of those meals that makes the whole house smell incredible. It is packed with rich meat sauce, sweet roasted peppers, creamy ricotta, melty mozzarella, and layers of cozy flavor that feel perfect for a slow evening at home. The burst tomatoes give the sauce a fresh homemade taste while the San Marzano tomatoes add depth and richness that make it feel extra special.

This recipe is amazing for family dinners, hosting friends, or making your week feel a little more comforting. I love serving it with garlic bread and a crisp Italian chopped salad for the ultimate restaurant style dinner at home.

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce

1 red bell pepper diced
1 orange bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 red onion diced
Dash of olive oil
2 pounds ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage
Garlic powder to taste
Onion powder to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Smoked paprika to taste
1 can San Marzano tomatoes
5 Compari tomatoes

For the Cheese Mixture

1 half cup ricotta cheese
1 package Garlic and Fine Herbs Boursin
1 half cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg
Fresh parsley chopped

For the Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles
Mozzarella cheese
Fresh parsley for topping

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Heat a large pot or deep pan over medium heat with a dash of olive oil. Add the diced red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, green bell pepper, and red onion. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Break the meat apart and season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika to taste. Cook until browned.
Add the San Marzano tomatoes and Compari tomatoes. As the sauce cooks down the Compari tomatoes will burst and add a fresh flavor to the rich sauce. Let simmer for about 20 minutes until thickened and not watery.
While the sauce simmers bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions.
In a bowl mix together the ricotta, Boursin, parmesan cheese, egg, and fresh parsley until combined. If you do not want to use Boursin you can substitute it with 1 cup of ricotta cheese instead.
Add about half a cup of meat sauce to the bottom of a baking dish.
Layer 3 noodles on top followed by some of the ricotta mixture, meat sauce, and a small handful of mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the layers until the lasagna is fully assembled.
Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.
Broil for about 2 minutes at the end until the top becomes golden and bubbly.
Finish with fresh parsley before serving.

FAQ

Why use both fresh and canned tomatoes?

The combination of San Marzano tomatoes and fresh Compari tomatoes gives this sauce an incredible balance of flavor. The canned tomatoes create richness and depth while the fresh tomatoes burst into the sauce and make it taste brighter and more homemade.

Can I skip the Boursin?

Yes. The Boursin adds extra creaminess and herby flavor but you can absolutely replace it with more ricotta if preferred.

Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

Definitely. The meat sauce actually tastes even better the next day and is also amazing for spaghetti and meatballs.

What should I serve with this lasagna?

I love serving this with garlic bread and an Italian chopped salad for the ultimate cozy dinner at home. For dessert I highly recommend lemon posset because it feels light and fresh after such a rich meal.

How do I keep lasagna from getting watery?

Letting the sauce simmer and reduce for about 20 minutes is key. You want the sauce thick and rich before layering the lasagna so everything stays perfectly cheesy instead of watery.

Cheesy Sunday Night Lasagna

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

1 hr 15 mins

Yield

8 servings

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce

1 red bell pepper diced
1 orange bell pepper diced
1 green bell pepper diced
1 red onion diced
Dash of olive oil
2 pounds ground beef
1 pound Italian sausage
Garlic powder to taste
Onion powder to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Smoked paprika to taste
1 can San Marzano tomatoes
5 Compari tomatoes

For the Cheese Mixture

1 half cup ricotta cheese
1 package Garlic and Fine Herbs Boursin
1 half cup grated parmesan cheese
1 egg
Fresh parsley chopped

For the Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles
Mozzarella cheese
Fresh parsley for topping

Instructions

Cook the vegetables: Heat a large pot or deep pan over medium heat with a dash of olive oil. Add the diced red bell pepper orange bell pepper green bell pepper and red onion. Cook for about 5 minutes until softened
Brown the meat: Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Season with garlic powder onion powder salt pepper and smoked paprika to taste. Cook until browned and fully cooked through
Make the sauce: Add the San Marzano tomatoes and Compari tomatoes. As the sauce cooks the Compari tomatoes will burst and add a super fresh flavor while the canned tomatoes create richness and depth. Let simmer for about 20 minutes until thickened and no longer watery
Boil the noodles: While the sauce cooks bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions
Make the cheese mixture: In a bowl mix together the ricotta Boursin parmesan cheese egg and fresh parsley until combined. The Boursin is optional and can be replaced with more ricotta if preferred
Start assembling: Add about half a cup of meat sauce to the bottom of a baking dish
Layer the lasagna: Add 3 noodles followed by some of the ricotta mixture meat sauce and a small handful of mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers until the lasagna is fully assembled
Bake: Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes
Broil the top: Place under the broiler for about 2 minutes until golden and bubbly on top
Serve: Finish with fresh parsley and serve warm

Note: This sauce is incredible for spaghetti and meatballs too. I love serving this lasagna with garlic bread and an Italian chopped salad for the ultimate restaurant style dinner at home. For dessert I highly recommend lemon posset because it feels light and fresh after such a rich cozy meal.