Pastitsio (Greek Lasagna)

Pastitsio is a classic Greek comfort food featuring layers of pasta, spiced meat sauce, and creamy béchamel, baked to golden perfection. Often called the 'Greek lasagna,' it’s hearty, aromatic, and perfect for family dinners or gatherings. With cinnamon-spiced beef, velvety béchamel, and cheesy topping, this dish delivers authentic Mediterranean flavors in every slice.

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Prep Time 40

Cook Time 1 30

Total Time 2 10

Servings: 8 squares

Course: Dinner, LUNCH, Main Course

Cuisine: Greek, Mediterranean

Calories: 620

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic finely minced
2 red onions medium, finely chopped
1 kg ground beef
3/4 cup dry red wine optional, adds depth
800 g canned crushed tomatoes
2 beef bouillon cubes crumbled
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp white sugar
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick or 1/2 tsp more ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper freshly ground

For the Greek Béchamel

100 g unsalted butter
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 liter whole milk or semi-skimmed
1 pinch nutmeg freshly grated
1/2 tsp salt
100 g Kefalotyri cheese finely grated; or Parmesan/Romano
2 egg yolks whites reserved for pasta layer

For the Pasta Layer

400 g Pastitsio No. 2 pasta or bucatini, ziti, penne
120 g feta cheese crumbled
2 egg whites from earlier

For the Topping

75 g Kefalotyri cheese finely grated; or Parmesan/Romano

Method

Step 1 – Meat Sauce: Sauté garlic and onions in olive oil. Add ground beef, cook until browned. Deglaze with wine, then add tomatoes, bouillon, paste, sugar, bay leaf, spices, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered 45–60 min until thick. Cool 30 min before use.
Step 2 – Béchamel: Melt butter, whisk in flour, cook 1 min. Gradually add milk while whisking until smooth. Cook 5 min until thick. Stir in nutmeg, cheese, and salt. Cool 5 min, whisk in yolks. Keep covered until use.
Step 3 – Pasta: Cook pasta 1 min less than package. Drain, return to pot. Mix gently with egg whites and feta.
Step 4 – Assemble: Preheat oven 180°C/350°F. Grease 9x13 dish. Layer pasta, then meat sauce, then béchamel. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 30 min until golden and bubbling. Rest 10–15 min before slicing.

Notes

✔ Use Kefalotyri cheese for authenticity, or Parmesan as substitute. ✔ Resting before slicing helps layers set. ✔ Add a pinch of allspice to the meat sauce for extra aroma. ✔ Make-ahead: prepare sauce & béchamel a day early, assemble and bake fresh.