THIS CAFE LIFE
Lasagna Bolognese (GF)
This is a slow-built, deeply savory lasagna — the kind that rewards patience. Pancetta and sausage form the base, vegetables melt into the sauce, and fresh herbs bring lift. The cheese layer is intentionally restrained: ricotta softened with crème fraîche and Pecorino for balance, not heaviness.
Finished low and slow, then rested properly, this lasagna slices clean and tastes even better the next day. It’s a make-ahead classic designed for gatherings, Sunday suppers, and cold-weather cooking.
Prep Time:
1 Hour
Cook Time:
1 Hour
Yield:
Serves 8 - 10
Ingredients
1/2 C Olive Oil
1 Onion, chopped
4 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Carrots, diced
2 Celery Stalks, diced
8 oz Pancetta, diced
1 # Mild Italian Sausage
2 T. Thyme, minced
2 T. Rosemary, minced
2 T. Oregano, minced
1 C. Red Wine, dry
2 28 oz Cans Italian Plum Tomatoes, diced
3 T. Tomato Paste
1/2 C. Pecorino Romano, grated
1 Container Ricotta Cheese (15oz)
4 oz Creme Fraiche
1 # Mozzarella, grated
16 Sheets Gluten Free, no bake, Lasagna Noodles
Salt & Pepper
3 T. Parsley, washed well and chopped fine
Dutch Oven or Heavy-Bottomed Pot
Affiliate disclosure: qualifying purchases made through this link support This Café Life, at no additional cost to you — thank you for shopping small and supporting independent creators.
Step 1 — Build the Vegetable Base
Combine onion, garlic, carrot, and celery in a food processor. Pulse until finely diced and uniform. Set aside.
Step 2 — Brown the Meats
In a Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage, breaking it into small pieces (a whisk works best). Remove and set aside, leaving fat in the pot.
Add pancetta and cook until rendered and lightly crisp. Remove and reserve with the sausage.
Step 3 — Soften the Aromatics
Add olive oil to the pot if needed. Add the vegetable mixture along with thyme, rosemary, oregano, salt, and pepper. Sauté until soft and fragrant, allowing moisture to cook off.
Return sausage and pancetta to the pot and stir to combine.
Step 4 — Deglaze & Build the Sauce
Add red wine and deglaze, scraping up browned bits. Reduce slightly.
Stir in tomato paste and allow it to cook until brick red and aromatic.
Add diced plum tomatoes, breaking them up further if needed. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for at least 1 hour, adjusting seasoning or liquid as needed. The sauce should be rich and cohesive, not loose.
Step 5 — Prepare the Cheese Mixture
In a bowl, combine ricotta, crème fraîche, and Pecorino Romano. Mix until smooth. (Bringing the cheeses to room temperature helps with blending.)
Step 6 — Assemble the Lasagna
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Spread 1 cup of sauce over the bottom of a large baking dish. Add a layer of gluten-free no-bake noodles.
Spread about 3/4 of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle with parsley.
Add a second layer of noodles, placed in the opposite direction. Top with 1/4 of the Bolognese sauce and 1/4 of the mozzarella.
Continue layering noodles, sauce, and mozzarella until noodles are used.
Finish with sauce and 6–8 dollops of the remaining ricotta mixture on top.
Step 7 — Bake & Rest
Cover with a lid or foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes, until bubbling and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Remove from oven and rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing. Finish with fresh thyme and serve.
Serving Notes
This lasagna improves overnight and reheats beautifully. Serve with a simple green salad and good olive oil at the table.
More Gluten-Free Pasta We Love
If gluten-free pasta is part of your regular cooking rhythm, you’ll find more recipes that focus on technique, balance, and real flavor — not substitutions that feel like compromise. Explore a few of our favorites:
Penne Bianca (GF) — a rich, oven-finished white sauce built for depth and melt
Pasta with Clam Sauce (GF) — briny, clean, and deeply New England
Crispy Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe (GF) — golden, skillet-driven, and weeknight-ready
Each recipe is designed to stand on its own, but together they form a small collection of gluten-free pastas that cook — and eat — like the real thing.
→ Shop Our Recommended Pasta Brands