This Easy Lasagna Casserole is a great way to enjoy your favorite Italian dish without having to spend all the time in the kitchen preparing it. Layers of tender pasta, delicious meat sauce, and creamy ricotta cheese turns into a hearty meal that your entire family will enjoy.
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- No need to worry about building lots of layers, when you can assemble this casserole in just a few simple steps.
- The simple ingredients come together to make a hearty casserole that is bursting with comfort food flavors.
- You can easily prep this meal ahead so that when you get home all you have to do is pop it in the oven to bake.
This simple casserole is family-friendly and always a hit with the kids. Plus, it's bursting with your favorite lasagna flavors but it doesn't nearly as much effort to make.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, add oil then sauté onion and garlic then add in ground beef and cook breaking it apart until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary. Season then add the pasta sauce and tomato paste.
- Mix in cooked pasta.
- In a bowl mix in ricotta, eggs, basil, a pinch of black pepper, half the Parmesan cheese and half the mozzarella cheese.
- Spread half the pasta meat mixture at the bottom of the dish. Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture evenly on top then top with the remaining pasta mix. Bake as directed below.
💡Tips
- I recommend spraying your casserole dish well with nonstick cooking spray or greasing it with butter before you add your ingredients to the baking dish.
- I've found that using a glass or ceramic baking dish works well for this casserole. I don't recommend using a metal baking dish.
- This is a very forgiving recipe, so you can adjust it to suit your desires, add more sauce if you like it saucy, or even add more cheese if you like it cheesy.
🧺 Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up 4 days. If you want to keep them in the baking dish make sure that you cover it tightly with foil or plastic wrap.
⌛ Make Ahead
Follow the directions to assemble this casserole, and then before you bake it store it wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or foil in the fridge until you are ready to bake it. I recommend not assembling it more than 48 hours in advance.
🍽️ Serve With
- I love to serve a hearty meal like this one with a green side salad like this Greek Salad and if you ask me you can't have pasta without an easy Air Freyr Garlic Bread on the side dish.
- Check out these side dishes to serve with lasagna.
👩🍳 Variations
- If you are not a fan of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or even turkey sausage as the protein for this dish instead.
- You can also add more vegetables if you wish. Saute some bell peppers and mushrooms with the garlic for a little extra flavor.
- Instead of marinara sauce, you could switch it out and use your favorite pasta sauce.
- Don't have ricotta on hand? Cottage cheese makes a great swap for the ricotta and still gives you a creamy texture.
💬 FAQs
Yes, just like the traditional lasagna you can freeze this casserole for up to 2-3 months. Just make sure that you wrap it tightly with foil and plastic wrap. Thaw in the freezer overnight before reheating.
You can reheat single servings in the microwave until warm all the way through, or reheat the entire casserole in a 350-degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until it's warm and bubbling.
I've found that round pasta like rotini or penne is the best as the sauce really clings to the pasta.
📣 Related Recipes
- If you are not a fan of ricotta but still love lasagna you are going to want to give this Lasagna without Ricotta recipe a try.
- Old Fashioned Tuna Noodle Casserole is a delicious classic combination of tender egg noodles, canned tuna and creamy homemade sauce and peas. Topped with buttery breadcrumbs this casserole is a warm comforting dinner to welcome you home.
- Ricotta Pasta is the quick answer to what's for dinner tonight question. Creamy, lemony and so simple pasta dish that can stand on its own or as a side dish.
More Ground Beef Casseroles
- Everyone loves this recipe for Cowboy Cornbread Casserole! It's filled with big beefy flavors and super easy to make and hello.... cornbread!
- This Easy Baked Ziti is another cheesy baked pasta recipe that your whole family will love.
- This Creamy Pasta Bake uses a béchamel sauce to add an extra hint of creamy to make it taste amazing.
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🥣 Equipment
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- large pot or dutch oven
- large skillet
- baking dish or casserole dish
Easy Lasagna Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1 jar 24 oz Marinara sauce
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon dry basil
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese divided
- ½ pound rotini pasta
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions, drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, add oil then sauté onion until translucent 2-3 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add in ground beef cook breaking it apart until no longer pink. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Add salt, pepper, dry oregano and mix everything well then add the pasta sauce and tomato paste then mix in cooked pasta.
- Simmer for a couple of minutes and taste to adjust seasoning.
- Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 13x9 casserole dish with cooking spray.
- In a bowl mix in ricotta, eggs, basil, a pinch of black pepper, half the parmesan cheese and half the mozzarella cheese.
- Spread half the pasta meat mixture at the bottom of the dish.
- Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture evenly on top then top with the remaining pasta mix.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until bubbly.
- Uncover and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top then return to oven for another 5 minutes or until cheese on top melts.
Notes
- If you like your lasagna more saucy, use more marinara sauce.
You can also add more cheese if you like more cheesy, this is a very forgiving recipe and you can easily make it your own. - Storage:
- Store leftover in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Leftover can be wrapped and frozen for up to 2 months.
- For more tips and ideas check out the post above.
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
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