Recipe Lasagna Element

Eighteen lasagna layers, one chart — kept by Steven Finney, Chicago, Illinois

Classic Elements

Classic Bolognese Lasagna

The founding element: slow meat ragù between pasta sheets, béchamel and parmesan, baked to a golden crown.

Sauce: slow meat ragù + béchamelLayers: pasta · ragù · béchamel · parmesan

Classic Bolognese Bechamel Deluxe

The same soul with extra béchamel between every layer — for tables that measure richness in millimeters.

Sauce: double béchamel + ragùLayers: pasta · ragù · double béchamel · mozzarella

Sausage & Peppers Element

Sweet Italian sausage and roasted peppers — the tailgate of the family, baked in a pan.

Sauce: marinara with fennel sausageLayers: pasta · sausage · peppers · mozzarella

Classic American Beef Lasagna

Ricotta under every layer, mozzarella everywhere else — how the element landed in American ovens.

Sauce: beef marinara + ricottaLayers: pasta · beef · ricotta · mozzarella

Spinach Ricotta Element

Green layers of spinach folded into ricotta — light, bright and honest.

Sauce: light tomato + spinach ricottaLayers: pasta · spinach ricotta · mozzarella

Vegetable Garden Element

Zucchini, mushrooms and peppers roasted first, so the layers stay firm — the garden's element.

Sauce: marinara with roasted vegetablesLayers: pasta · vegetables · marinara · mozzarella

White & Light Elements

Lasagna Bianca

No tomato in sight: béchamel, chicken and mozzarella — the white element of the chart.

Sauce: béchamel + chickenLayers: pasta · chicken · béchamel · mozzarella

Four Cheese Element

Mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and gorgonzola — four cheeses arguing politely under foil.

Sauce: cream base, no tomatoLayers: pasta · four cheeses · cream

Butternut Squash Element

Roasted squash purée, sage brown butter and a thin veil of béchamel — autumn's element.

Sauce: sage brown butter béchamelLayers: pasta · squash · béchamel · parmesan

Mushroom Truffle Element

Wild mushrooms, cream and a whisper of truffle — the element reserved for guests.

Sauce: mushroom cream + truffle oilLayers: pasta · mushrooms · cream · fontina

Seafood Element

Shrimp and scallops with a light cream — the element that arrives with holidays.

Sauce: light cream with seafoodLayers: pasta · seafood · cream · herbs

Pesto Chicken Element

Basil pesto thinned with cream, chicken and sun-dried tomatoes between sheets.

Sauce: pesto creamLayers: pasta · chicken · pesto cream · mozzarella

Bold Builds

Puttanesca Element

Olives, capers, anchovies and chili — the loudest sauce in the book, baked anyway.

Sauce: puttanesca — tomato, olives, capersLayers: pasta · puttanesca · mozzarella

Spicy Sausage Element

Hot Italian sausage with chili flakes in the ragù — the element with a warning label.

Sauce: hot sausage ragùLayers: pasta · hot ragù · mozzarella

Carbonara Element

Guanciale, egg and pecorino folded like carbonara, then baked — scandalous and delicious.

Sauce: carbonara — egg, pecorino, pepperLayers: pasta · carbonara · guanciale

Puttanesca-Olive Twin

Same loud sauce, doubled olives, capers on top — for tables that argue back.

Sauce: double puttanescaLayers: pasta · puttanesca · olives · capers

Buffalo Chicken Element

Buffalo sauce softened with cream cheese — game-day element, baked in trays.

Sauce: buffalo creamLayers: pasta · buffalo chicken · cream · cheddar

Mexican-Style Element

Taco-seasoned beef, black beans and corn — the element that crossed the border and stayed.

Sauce: taco tomato sauceLayers: pasta · seasoned beef · beans · cheddar

The Element Chart — free PDF

All eighteen elements, their sauces and layer lists print on US Letter pages as a free chart. Click to download; nothing is collected, nothing is sold.

Download the chart (PDF)

Recipe Lasagna Element is an independent, informational publication — it sells nothing and is not affiliated with any restaurant, chain or brand. Compositions are typical, not recipes.