Easy Lasagna
Hospitality is something very important to our family. One way we demonstrate hospitality is by having people in our home, and that usually involves food. Another way we have shown hospitality to others is by taking them a meal. This is most often appropriate when “mom” is unable to cook or if circumstances make it difficult. Occasions we have found taking a meal beneficial have included, birth of a new baby, moving into a new home, “mom” or someone else is sick. Even if “mom” isn’t the one needing care, she’s the one giving most of it so dinner brought to the family is often a huge blessing to all.
I have several “go to” meals for just such occasions. This recipe is one of them. Lasagna is one of those “feed a lot of people” meals. I also like to serve it to guests and it’s good for “pot lucks”.
Everything about lasagna is wonderful….except making it. Often it becomes very messy and time consuming. I love this recipe because it’s NEITHER! The best part…you don’t have to boil the noodles AND it doesn’t require those more expensive “no boil” noodles either. This, like most of my recipes, is made with ordinary ingredients you may already have in the pantry. (The only thing I usually have to buy is ricotta cheese.)
It’s prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight, although I have made it in the morning and cooked it the same evening. I love things that I can just take out of the refrigerator and pop into the oven. I have also made it in the crock pot. It’s still good but we like the “oven” version better.
Here’s the Recipe:
Ingredients listed in printable version below
Use your favorite spaghetti sauce, or like us, what’s on sale
Brown hamburger meat with garlic and onions; drain
Mix tomatoes, 1 1/2 jars spaghetti sauce and meat in a large bowl
I save the other 1/2 jar of sauce for heating and serving on top when we eat it….we like A LOT of sauce
In another large bowl, mix ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg
Ladle a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 pan
You need to end with sauce so use about 1/3
Next, cover sauce with a layer of UNCOOKED noodles
Third goes a layer of cheese – don’t worry if it doesn’t spread, it melts when heated
Repeat layering, ending with sauce
Sprinkle top with extra mozzarella cheese – amount is up to you
Notice, one end of ours has more cheese than the other – some of us like a lot some, some like a little.
I also like to sprinkle top with Italian Seasoning or Dipping Seasoning
Cover and refrigerate over night
When ready to bake cover TIGHTLY with foil and bake at 375 degrees for about 1-1 1/4 hrs or until cheese is bubbly
Peel back a corner of the foil to check but reseal tightly and let stand 15 minutes before serving.
If you have any left overs, they are even better the next day!
With a salad and garlic bread this is the perfect serve at home or take anywhere meal!
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 clove garlic- minced (1/2 tsp jar minced)
- 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1 1/2-2 jars spaghetti sauce
- 1 large can crushed tomatoes
- 1 lb ricotta cheese
- 8 oz package grated mozzarella cheese + extra for topping
- 1 egg slightly beaten
- 1/2 -1 cup Parmesan cheese
- 8-10 uncooked lasagna noodles
- Mix meat and sauce ingredients together in a large bowl
- In second bowl mix cheeses and egg
- In a 9x13 pan layer
- meat sauce (about 1/3)
- uncooked noodles
- cheese
- repeat - ending with meat sauce to cover top
- Sprinkle more mozzarella or Parmesan on top
- Cover and refrigerate overnight
- Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375 degrees for about 1 -1/1/4 hrs or until bubbly.
- Let stand covered 15 minutes before serving
- Can use diced tomatoes
- Grated or shredded Parmesan works well
- This recipe serves 6-8 but doubles well, if you have a large roasting pan