Our Best Cheeseburger Lasagna Recipe: A Dinner The Family Will Love

Do you ever face a dinnertime conundrum, unable to decide between a succulent, all-American cheeseburger and the soul-warming embrace of a traditional lasagna? We know the feeling well; it’s a classic comfort food clash. But what if you didn’t have to pick a side? Allow us to present the one dish that masterfully unites these two culinary giants into a single, magnificent bake: the Cheeseburger Lasagna Recipe. This creation is pure happiness on a plate, layering all the beloved elements of a cheeseburger—hearty beef, a tangy-sweet sauce, and copious amounts of melted cheese—within the familiar, comforting framework of a lasagna. It’s an ideal solution for a weeknight family meal, a surefire hit at any get-together, and a brilliant way to refresh your dinner rotation. If you’re keen on innovative family dinners, you’ll probably also adore our Honey Garlic Sausage Sweet Potatoes bake.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A Perfect Culinary Mash-Up: This dish brilliantly merges two of the world’s most cherished comfort foods. You get the cheesy, layered satisfaction of lasagna, infused with the unmistakable savoury and tangy notes of a great cheeseburger.
• A Hit with the Whole Family: Its flavours are both familiar and delightful, making it a winner across all age groups. In our experience, even the most particular eaters find this cheesy, meaty bake completely irresistible.
• Ideal for Meal Planning: This recipe makes a generous amount, which is perfect for cooking in a large batch. You can serve it for dinner, then enjoy the wonderful leftovers for lunch the next day, or even freeze a portion for a hectic evening down the line.
• Wonderfully Adaptable: Much like a classic cheeseburger, this recipe can be easily tailored to your tastes. Why not throw in some crispy bacon, try a different blend of cheeses, or add some sautéed mushrooms? The options are truly limitless!
• An Impressive Centrepiece: While it is surprisingly simple to prepare, this lasagna looks absolutely spectacular when served. That first slice, which reveals all the delicious, distinct layers, is a truly gratifying moment.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 900g (2 lbs) lean beef mince
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 120ml (1/2 cup) ketchup
• 2 tbsp American mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 12 dried lasagna sheets
• 50g (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
• 50g (1/4 cup) plain flour
• 750ml (3 cups) whole milk
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 250g (2.5 cups) mature cheddar cheese, grated
• 150g (1.5 cups) mozzarella cheese, grated
• 8-10 dill pickle slices, chopped (optional, for topping)

How to Make Our Cheeseburger Lasagna Recipe

Putting together this delightful dish is much simpler than it appears. We have outlined the process in clear, easy-to-follow stages, so you can confidently construct your own cheeseburger lasagna right from scratch.

Step 1: Prepare the Savoury Cheeseburger Filling

1. Set a large, deep-sided frying pan or a Dutch oven over a medium-high heat and pour in the olive oil. When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion and sauté for 5–7 minutes, or until it has softened and turned translucent.
2. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it becomes aromatic, taking care that it doesn’t catch. Next, add the lean beef mince to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break the mince apart and continue cooking until it is browned all over. As the gurus at Food Network suggest, using mince with a higher fat content (such as an 80/20 blend) can add exceptional flavour.
3. Once the mince is thoroughly cooked, tilt the pan to carefully drain away any rendered fat. Place it back on the hob and season the beef with the salt and black pepper.
4. Pour the ketchup, American mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato purée into the pan. Mix everything thoroughly to ensure the beef is completely coated in the sauce. Allow the mixture to come to a low simmer and cook for approximately 5 minutes, giving the flavours a chance to meld together perfectly. Set this aside as you prepare the cheese sauce.

Step 2: Create the Creamy Cheese Sauce

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the butter over a medium heat. As soon as it has melted, whisk in the plain flour to create a thick paste, which is called a roux. Cook for about a minute, stirring it continuously.
2. Begin to pour in the milk, adding just a small amount at a time while whisking vigorously to avoid any lumps. Continue to add the milk bit by bit, whisking all the while, until you have a smooth and slightly thickened sauce.
3. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for another 2–3 minutes, or until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Take the saucepan off the heat.
4. Add the Dijon mustard and roughly two-thirds of the grated cheddar cheese. Continue to stir until the cheese has fully melted, resulting in a rich and velvety cheese sauce. Season to your liking with a little salt and pepper.

Step 3: Assemble Your Layered Beef Pasta

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4). Take a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) baking dish and lightly grease the inside.
2. Begin by spreading a fine layer of the beef mixture over the bottom of your prepared dish. This clever trick helps prevent the pasta from sticking.
3. Place a single layer of dried lasagna sheets over the beef. You might need to break some sheets to get a snug fit inside your dish.
4. Spoon over approximately one-third of the leftover beef filling, and then top that with a third of your creamy cheese sauce, spreading both out to create an even layer.
5. Repeat this layering process: lasagna sheets, then beef filling, then cheese sauce. Carry on until you have three complete layers, finishing with a top layer of lasagna sheets covered by the rest of the cheese sauce. This classic construction is what makes it such a satisfying American Italian bake.
6. Finally, sprinkle the remaining grated cheddar and all the mozzarella evenly across the top.

Step 4: Bake to Golden Perfection

1. Place your baking dish onto a baking tray, which will help catch any bubbling sauce that might spill over. Bake in your preheated oven for 30–35 minutes. If the cheese on top begins to brown too quickly, you can loosely cover the dish with foil for the initial 20 minutes.
2. You’ll know the lasagna is cooked when its surface is a beautiful golden brown and bubbling with heat, and the pasta feels tender. To check the pasta, insert a sharp knife into the centre; there should be minimal resistance.
3. This next step is crucial! Let your lasagna rest on the side for a minimum of 10–15 minutes before you attempt to slice and serve it. This resting period allows the layers to settle, which is key to getting clean, well-defined portions.
4. Just before serving, feel free to scatter some chopped dill pickles over the top for that final, authentic cheeseburger flair.

FAQ

The Ultimate Comfort Food Fusion

And there you have it—a recipe that proves you don’t have to choose between your favourite comfort foods. This layered beef pasta is so much more than a simple meal; it’s a culinary experience. It’s the ideal dish for a cosy evening at home, a fun and satisfying dinner to enjoy with friends, or a dependable crowd-pleaser that will delight the entire family. The combination of rich, savoury sauce, creamy cheese, and tender pasta creates a symphony of flavours that genuinely tastes like a cheeseburger in every single mouthful.

We are certain that this recipe will earn a permanent spot in your cooking repertoire. If you loved making it, why not try another creative take on a classic, such as our Bacon Jam Cheeseburger Sliders? We would be thrilled to hear how your own cheeseburger lasagna turns out! Please feel free to leave a comment and a rating below to share your thoughts, and don’t forget to pass this recipe on to anyone else who appreciates a truly magnificent comfort food creation.

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Prep: 45 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 900g (2 lbs) lean beef mince
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 120ml (1/2 cup) ketchup
• 2 tbsp American mustard
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp tomato purée
• 12 dried lasagna sheets
• 50g (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
• 50g (1/4 cup) plain flour
• 750ml (3 cups) whole milk
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 250g (2.5 cups) mature cheddar cheese, grated
• 150g (1.5 cups) mozzarella cheese, grated
• 8-10 dill pickle slices, chopped (optional, for topping)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Beef Filling: Heat oil in a large pan. Sauté onion until soft, then add garlic. Add beef mince and cook until browned; drain fat. Stir in salt, pepper, ketchup, American mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and tomato purée. Simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Make the Cheese Sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to make a roux. Cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat and stir in Dijon mustard and two-thirds of the cheddar cheese until melted. Season to taste.
3. Assemble the Lasagna: Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C Fan). In a greased 9×13 inch dish, spread a thin layer of beef filling. Layer with lasagna sheets, 1/3 of the remaining beef, and 1/3 of the cheese sauce. Repeat twice more to create three full layers.
4. Bake: Top the final layer of pasta with the remaining cheese sauce, the rest of the cheddar, and all the mozzarella. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden and bubbly. Let rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing. Garnish with optional chopped pickles.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 683, Carbs: 38 g, Protein: 41 g, Fat: 35 g