Description
This Lazy Day Lasagna recipe is a quick and easy twist on the classic Italian-American dish, perfect for busy weeknights. Using oven-ready noodles and a hearty meat sauce, it layers rich ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses for a comforting, cheesy bake that’s both satisfying and simple to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes (undrained)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Lasagna Layers
- 9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain any excess fat to keep the sauce from being greasy.
- Make Sauce: Add the marinara sauce, undrained diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to the cooked meat. Stir well and let it simmer for 5 to 7 minutes to combine flavors.
- Begin Layering: Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish as the first layer.
- Add Noodles and Cheese: Layer 3 oven-ready lasagna noodles over the meat sauce. Then spread one-third of the ricotta cheese over the noodles, sprinkle with one-third of the shredded mozzarella, and add a light sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the layering process two more times—meat sauce, noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan—ending with a final layer of meat sauce topped with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the lasagna dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes to allow all ingredients to meld and cook through.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking uncovered for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the lasagna is bubbly and the cheese on top is golden and slightly crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired, then serve warm.
Notes
- You can prepare the lasagna the night before and refrigerate it, making dinnertime even easier.
- Substitute ricotta cheese with cottage cheese if preferred for a lighter texture.
- Add fresh or sautéed spinach or mushrooms to the meat sauce to include more vegetables and nutrients.
