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Spoonful of cheesy lazy lasagna lifted from baking dish with visible sauce, pasta, beef, ricotta, and mozzarella.

Lazy Lasagna Recipe

This lazy lasagna recipe is a quick and easy version of the classic dish, perfect for busy weeknights when you crave comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz dried pasta penne, rotini, or rigatoni
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage, ground turkey, or lentils
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 25 oz marinara sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella torn or shredded
  • Parsley for garnish optional
  • Olive oil

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch pan
  • Large sauté pan
  • Large bowl
  • Aluminum foil

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375℉ (190℃) and prep a 9×13 inch pan, rubbing with a little bit of olive oil to coat it.
  2. Boil water and cook pasta just 1-2 minutes short of package directions until al dente (firm, but cooked through).
  3. Brown ground beef in a large sauté pan until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes, and drain if there is a lot of excess moisture.
  4. Add marinara sauce to the beef, stir, and set aside.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the basil, garlic, oregano with ricotta cheese until well mixed.
  6. Drain pasta and toss with the marinara/beef mixture until coated.
  7. Layer 1/2 the pasta in the bottom of the prepared pan.
  8. Top with all of the ricotta/garlic/basil mixture. Spread it evenly!
  9. Spread the rest of the pasta over the top of the ricotta mixture.
  10. Dot with mozzarella tears all over the top.
  11. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375℉ for 20-25 minutes until warmed through and bubbling.
  12. Remove foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until lightly browned on top. (Broil for 1-2 minutes on high for extra browning, watching closely).
  13. Remove from the oven and serve warm with a side salad.

Notes

This lazy lasagna is quicker than convincing a picky eater that broccoli's a friend. It's easily customizable and much faster than traditional layering.
Disclaimer: Nutritional information is an estimate only and can vary significantly depending on the specific ingredients used. For accurate values, use a nutrition calculator with your specific ingredients.
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