This Lazy Lasagna Casserole is so easy to make and it is packed with flavor! It is the perfect comfort food for a busy day or lazy weekends, a meal the whole family will love!
This yummy casserole is layered with cooked ground beef, a creamy ricotta mixture, mozzarella cheese, and pasta noodles. It is baked in the oven until hot and bubbly. You can never go wrong with a cheesy pasta casserole like this one.
Next time try the Johnny Marzetti Recipe - this is a cheesy hearty casserole!
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Why you'll love this recipe
✔️ It's an easy lasagna casserole recipe that is perfect for busy nights.
✔️ This casserole is filled with layers of cheesy goodness, which makes it picky eater approved.
✔️ This easy recipe makes great leftovers because it tastes great the next day.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements for the Lazy Lasagna Casserole recipe, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- ground beef
- onion
- Italian seasoning
- rotini pasta, penne pasta, Mafalda pasta (which is the curly mini lasagna noodles pictured below).
- mozzarella cheese
- ricotta cheese
- eggs
- Parmesan cheese
- pasta sauce, marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce, whichever you'd prefer.
Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. For the complete directions just scroll down to the bottom!
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat 9x13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cook the pasta to al dente, drain well and set aside. Save 1 cup pasta water.
- Meanwhile, in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, brown ground beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain the grease and return the pan to the heat. Sprinkle with Italian Seasoning and cook, stirring, for a minute or two.
- Add the marinara and water and let it simmer for 5 minutes until warmed through. Stir in the cooked pasta, remove from the heat and set aside.
- Add ricotta and eggs to a medium mixing bowl and stir until smooth. Add one cup mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese.
- Add half of the beef/pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture evenly over the top. Top with remaining meat mixture, spreading it out with the back of a spoon to cover the creamy layer.
- Sprinkled with remaining parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Equipment
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- 9x13 casserole dish
- large pot or dutch oven
- large skillet
- medium bowl
- aluminum foil
FAQ's
I recommend using a glass or ceramic casserole dish but you can use a metal pan, I just suggest lowering the oven temperature by 25 degrees if you are using a metal dish.
Lazy lasagna is a lasagna casserole that is made of pasta, meat, and cheese. This dish takes all the effort out of making lasagna because there is no need to build layers in this casserole recipe.
It all depends on the recipe. I recommend covering this lasagna casserole with foil while baking to prevent the cheese from browning too much.
Things to know
- Be sure to spray your casserole dish well with non-stick spray for easy clean up.
- Make sure that you saute the beef until it is no longer pink and then the onions are tender.
- If you are using very lean ground beef, you may need to add a small amount of olive oil or cooking oil so that your beef does not stick to the skillet.
- If you decide to use Italian sausage instead of ground beef, be sure to remove it from the casing before you brown it.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
Variations
- Instead of ground beef, you can use ground chicken or even Italian sausage.
- Add some heat to this sauce by adding ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
- .Add in a layer of frozen spinach that has been thawed and squeezed dry for an extra veggie boost.
- Replace the rotini pasta with any type of short pasta shapes such as shells, elbows, or even rigatoni.
- For a lower fat version, you can use part-skim ricotta cheese and ground turkey.
- Replace the mozzarella cheese with provolone, gouda, or even sharp cheddar cheese.
Storage
Refrigerate - Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 days in an airtight container.
Freezer - Assemble the casserole, but do not bake it. Cover tightly with foil and freeze for up to 2 months. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then bake as directed.
Reheat - Individual slices can be reheated in the microwave or you can reheat the entire casserole dish in a 350-degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until warmed all the way through.
Related recipes
I'm a big fan of great recipes for easy meals. Here are some of our favorites to get great food on the dinner table fast!
- If you love easy casserole recipes, then next time you will want to give this Old Fashioned Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole recipe a try.
- For those days when you prefer to use the crockpot, use this recipe for Crockpot Lasagna with Ravioli - super simple and so good!
- Are you looking for a simple meal for busy nights that your whole family will enjoy? This Lemon Garlic Pasta is not only easy to make, but it's also full of garlic and citrus flavors that makes it irresistible.
- Click here if you'd prefer a traditional lasagna recipe. It's perfect for serving a crowd!
- This Creamy Beef Noodle Casserole is one of my favorite easy dinner recipes. It's filled with simple ingredients and comforting flavors that are perfect for school nights.
Serve with
- If you ask me you can't have lazy lasagna without garlic bread, and this Air Fryer Garlic Bread recipe is crispy and flavorful, you will love it.
- My family enjoys a fresh green salad like this Kale Superfood Salad when we eat a hearty meal like this one. You can never go wrong with fresh vegetables and a tangy dressing as a side to any meal.
- I like to end a hearty meal like this one with a crunchy yet sweet cookie like these Crispy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. They are a great handheld dessert to enjoy after a big meal. Or give make the Cracker Barrel Fried Apples, with a scoop of ice cream? These are just heavenly!.
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If you love this recipe please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating!
Lazy Lasagne Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¼ cup chopped onion
- 1 pound rotini pasta shells cooked and drained
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 2 cups ricotta cheese substitute cottage cheese if you prefer
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 x 9-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions to al dente, drain well and set aside. Save 1 cup pasta water.
- In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, brown beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Drain excess grease and return the pan to the heat.
- Add the marinara and water and let it simmer for 5 minutes until warmed through. Stir in the cooked pasta, remove from the heat and set aside.
- Add ricotta and egg to a large mixing bowl. Add half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the Parmesan cheese and parsley, and stir until smooth and creamy.
- Add half of the beef/pasta mixture to the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon dollops of the cheese mixture evenly over the top. Top with remaining beef/pasta mixture, spreading it out with the back of a spoon to cover the creamy layer.
- Sprinkled with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
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