Few dishes gather people around a table quite like lasagne. It is rich, layered, bubbling at the edges and guaranteed to silence a room in the best way. Lasagne recipes South Africa families adore often carry a little extra flavour, whether that is a mince sauce, creamy white sauce or a generous handful of local cheddar. From relaxed Sunday lunches to celebratory dinners, this comfort classic never goes out of style.
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Lasagne has become a firm favourite in South African homes. Whether served at a Sunday family lunch, taken to a potluck, or baked ahead for a busy weeknight, this layered pasta dish delivers comfort, flavour and generous portions every time.
From classic beef versions to creative twists with chicken, vegetables and even braai-inspired flavours, lasagne is one of the most adaptable meals you can make. This guide explores seven lasagne styles that South Africans return to again and again, each one offering something slightly different while keeping that rich, layered appeal we all love.
Perfect beef lasagne
Ingredients
- 2 large onions, peeled
- 2 large carrots, peeled
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed
- 2 T olive oil
- 1 kg free-range lean beef mince
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- ¼ cup red wine (optional) Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Blend 750 ml
- 1x410g can tomato purée
- 1x410g can chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup good-quality beef stock
- 1 T tomato paste
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 T balsamic vinegar
- 300–400 g dried or fresh lasagne sheets, cooked and drained
- 100 g Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- paprika, for sprinkling
- 100 g breadcrumbs
For the white sauce:
- 75 g butter
- 75 g flour
- 2 cups milk
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C. Finely chop the onions, carrots and garlic in a food processor, then soften in the olive oil over a low heat for 5 minutes without allowing them to colour.
Increase the heat to medium and add the mince. Brown, then add the thyme and red wine and cook for 1–2 minutes.
Stir through the tomato purée, canned tomatoes, beef stock, tomato paste and season to taste. Simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, then stir through the balsamic vinegar.
To make the white sauce, melt the butter in a pan over a low heat, then whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add the milk, a little at a time and whisk it into the flour mixture until smooth. Simmer for a further minute, stirring continually, and season to taste.
Place a layer of mince in the bottom of an ovenproof dish, then top with a layer of pasta and white sauce. Repeat until the dish is full, finishing with a layer of white sauce. Sprinkle over the Parmigiano Reggiano, paprika and breadcrumbs. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden.
SOURCE: WOOLWORTHS TASTE
Everyone’s Easy Lasagne
Ingredients
- 500 ml boiling water
- 400 ml of water
- 1 onion, chopped
- 125 ml cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 generous handful of baby spinach leaves
- 410 g tin tomatoes, chopped
- 15 ml oil
- 48 g (1 sachet) Knorr spaghetti Bolognese (Bolognaise) dry cook-in-sauce
- 38 g (x 3 sachets) Knorr creamy cheese pasta sauce
- 500 g beef mince
- 200 g preinstant lasagne sheets, cooked
Cooking Method
- Preheat the oven to 180°C and grease a large ovenproof dish.
- In a pan, heat oil and fry the onion and mince until browned.
- Add the Knorr Spaghetti Bolognaise Dry Cook-in-Sauce, tomatoes and 400 ml water.
- Bring to the boil and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Prepare the Knorr Creamy Cheese Pasta Sauce by placing the contents of all packets in a big jug.
- Add 500 ml of rapidly boiling water and stir with a fork until the sauce is smooth and thick.
- Arrange the meat, spinach, lasagne sheets and cheese sauce in layers in the ovenproof dish (ending with cheese sauce).
- Allow to stand for 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle with cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the lasagne is tender and heated through.
SOURCE: WHATSFORDINNER.CO.ZA
Creamy Veggie Lasagne
Ingredients
Vegetables:
White sauce:
To assemble:
Preheat the oven to 190°C.
Vegetables:
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the chopped vegetables and salt. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add the pasta sauce and mix through. Add the baby spinach and simmer for 5 minutes.
White sauce:
Add the cottage cheese to a mixing bowl. Add the egg and mix well.
To assemble:
- Add a layer of vegetables to a medium, greased casserole dish and spread evenly. Top with the lasagna sheets.
- Add 1/3 of the white sauce and spread evenly. Top with 75 g grated mozzarella. Repeat the layers ending with 150 g grated mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for a further 20 – 30 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the cheese golden.
- The perfect dinner or lunchbox leftover for work.
- Add a delicious 150 g LANCEWOOD® No Sugar Added Double Cream Pineapple & Coconut Yoghurt for a workday snack!
SOURCE: LANCEWOOD.CO.ZA
Tuna Lasagne
You Will Need:
To assemble
- 250 g smooth cottage cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) grated cheddar or pecorino cheese
- ¼ cup (60 ml) fresh breadcrumbs
- 2 T (30 ml) melted butter or olive oil
Method:
Soak the lasagne sheets, in batches, for 2 – 3 minutes in hot tap water. This improves the tenderness of the pasta and reduces the baking time. Spread the sheets out on baking paper.
Drain the oil from the tuna into a frying pan (the oil is full of flavour!) and sauté the onion, pre-seasoned with Green Onion Seasoning, in this until soft and beginning to brown.
Add the undiluted Fish Stock, tuna, Pasta Sauce, lemon juice and sugar. Season to taste and stir in Tomato Pesto. Keep on one side. Mix the White Sauce Powder with the cold water. Bring the milk nearly to the boil, add the white sauce slurry – stir until thickened. Add butter and ½ cup of grated cheese.
To assemble
Use a 30 x 24 cm ovenproof dish and butter it lightly. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. Spread ¼ of the tuna sauce into the dish. Layer with pasta sheets.
Add another ¼ of tuna sauce. Dot teaspoonfuls of cottage cheese here and there (use ⅓). Spread ⅓ of the cheese sauce over. Repeat layering twice more and end with a layer of cheese sauce.
Mix the ¼ cup of grated cheese with the breadcrumbs and butter or oil. Sprinkle over the top. Bake for ± 45 minutes. Serve with a tossed salad, dressed with either our Reduced Oil Greek Dressing.
SOURCE: INA PAARMAN’S KITCHEN
Lasagna
Ingredients
- 250g lasagne sheets or ribbon noodles
- Boil in salted water for 20 minutes. Drain.
- (Hint: boil only a few Lasagne sheets at a time to obtain the best results.)
- 500g minced beef
- 50g tomato paste
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 5 ml oil
- 1 packet Royco® Brown Onion Packet Soup
- 2 packets Royco® Cheddar Cheese Sauce
- 375 ml water
Vegetarian
Replace the meat in this recipe with a selection of veg, which allows for a textured filling that is flavourful. We suggest 3 large carrots grated, 1 red bell pepper chopped and 3 medium baby marrows.
Family Friendly
Lasagna may be one of the ultimate kids’ meals, so get them involved in the steps and proud of what’s on their plate.
Method
- Fry the beef & garlic in the heated oil till beginning to go brown.
- Stir in the Royco® Brown Onion Packet Soup & gradually add the water.
- Add the tomato paste and continue to stir until thickened.
- Prepare 2 packets of Royco® Cheddar Cheese Sauce as per pack instructions.
- In a greased casserole, arrange the layers of the lasagne, meat sauce & cheese sauce and repeat until all are used, ending with the lasagne.
- Sprinkle the top with Parmesan & cheddar cheese and bake at 180°C for approximately 30 minutes.
SOURCE: ROYCO
Boerewors lasagne
Ingredients
- 4 T olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 sprig thyme
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 500 g Woolworths Grabouw boerewors, removed from the casing
- 70 g Tomato paste
- 2 x 400 g cans of peeled chopped tomatoes
- 1 T brown sugar
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 x 400 ml sachet Woolworths béchamel sauce
- 1 x 250 box lasagne sheets
- 100 g Woolworths basil pesto
- 100 g Cheddar, grated
- 100 g mozzarella, grated
- Woolworths hard cheese, grated, for serving
- salad, for serving
Method
- Heat the olive oil in pan. Fry onions, thyme and garlic. Add the boerewors and fryfor 5 minutes or until browned, breaking it up into smaller chunks using a wooden spoon. Stir in the tomato paste, tomatoes, sugar and seasoning. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a little water if the tomatoes thicken too much.
- Using an ovenproof dish, layer the béchamel sauce, boerewors, lasagne sheets and pesto. Top with the Cheddar and mozzarella and bake for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbling.
- Sprinkle with the hard cheese and serve with salad.
SOURCE: WOOLWORTHS TASTE
Best Chicken Lasagne
You Will Need:
SOURCE: INA PAARMAN’S KITCHEN
How to Choose the Right Lasagne for Your Occasion
When deciding which lasagne to prepare, consider:
- The number of guests
- Dietary preferences
- Season and temperature
- Whether it needs to be transported
- How much preparation time you have
Lasagne remains one of the most practical dishes for entertaining because it can be assembled ahead and baked when needed.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
Lasagne is ideal for busy households.
- Assemble it earlier in the day and refrigerate before baking.
- Freeze unbaked portions for future meals.
- Reheat gently to preserve texture.
- Allow it to rest after baking for cleaner slices.
Proper planning ensures flavour improves rather than dries out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular lasagne in South Africa?
Classic beef lasagne remains the favourite, especially for family meals and gatherings.
Can lasagne be made ahead of time?
Yes. It is one of the best make-ahead meals and often tastes better the next day.
What side dishes pair well with lasagne?
Simple green salads, garlic bread and roasted vegetables balance the richness.
Is vegetarian lasagne popular in South Africa?
Yes. Spinach and roasted vegetable variations are increasingly common.
Can lasagne be frozen?
Absolutely. It freezes well both before and after baking.
Final Thoughts
Lasagne continues to hold a special place in South African kitchens because it combines convenience, comfort and versatility. Whether you prefer the traditional beef version or a creative twist with vegetables or seafood, there is a lasagne variation to suit every table. By choosing the right style for your occasion and adding your favourite recipe underneath each section, you can create a dish that truly reflects what South Africans love about this layered classic.
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