Lasagna Casserole Recipe

We love easy casseroles around here. They are the perfect solution for dinner on a busy night. This Quick and Easy Lasagna Casserole is packed with meat, cheese and tons of flavor!

I always make one for dinner and another for the freezer. It doesn’t take any extra time and I have dinner for another night without any extra work. If you love freezer meals, then you may love these recipes – 55 Easy Crock Pot Freezer Meals, 35 Easy Freezer Meals and 10 Easy Crockpot Freezer Meals in an Hour!

Why This Recipe Works

My family loves when I make a traditional lasagna recipe. But this lasagna casserole is just an easy twist on a classic recipe. The flavors are still the same and the ingredients are simple.

The layers of this casserole come together quickly and makes the perfect meal to prepare for a friend or neighbor.

Ingredients

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

• Change Meat – Use ground turkey instead of the beef. Italian Sausage or Shredded Cook chicken is also a great option.
• No Meat – Omit the meat all together. The cheese and tomato mixture is so amazing that you can really just us that.
• Cottage Cheese – Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta in the cheese mixture.
• Vegetables – Sneak in veggies! You can add carrots, spinach, mushrooms and zucchini to the tomato mixture.
• Sauce – Feel free to make lazy lasagna casserole and use a jar of pasta sauce, marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce.

How to Make Lasagna Casserole

• Step 1 – Brown the ground beef and the onion until no longer pink in a large skillet over medium heat. I like to boil the noodles for the casserole while the meat is cooking.

Step 2 – Mix together the crushed tomatoes, seasonings and the ground beef you just cooked.

Step 3 – Then mix the rest of the mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and the egg together.

Step 4 – Finally, stir in the cooked pasta and make sure it is coated really well.

Step 5 – Put half of the pasta in the bottom of the baking pan. We used a 9×13 and it was perfect.

Step 6 – Next, add half of the meat sauce to the dish. Keep repeating until all of the pasta and meat is layered.

Step 7 – Now, grab the cheese you set aside earlier. Sprinkle on top of the casserole.

• Step 8 – Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes. Oven times vary but you just want the cheese melted and the casserole bubbly.
• Step 9 – Once it comes out of the oven, let the casserole sit for 15 minutes before serving. This will make it easier to cut and serve. Garnish with fresh basil or fresh parsley for added flavor.

Expert Tips

• Baking Dish – This recipe is perfect in a 9×13 casserole dish. The ones with the lid are really handy if you are taking this dish somewhere. I use the disposable pans for the one I put in the freezer.
• Ground Beef – Cook and drain the ground beef before mixing with the sauce ingredients. You can easily prepare this ahead of time to save time. Learn how to How to Freeze Ground beef AFTER you brown it.
• Pasta – Boil the pasta in a large pot of water before making casserole. Cook the pasta according to the package or al dente.
• Baking Time – Baking time will vary depending on your oven and how golden brown you want the top to be. If you have problems with the top burning before the center is heated, you may need to cover with aluminum foil.

Serving Suggestions

We like to serve this with Garlic Bread Cheese Sticks. This ensures you get every last drop of the sauce.

Do you know how to freeze garlic bread? I do this all the time and it makes it super easy to take out on a busy night to enjoy.

Throw in a simple garden salad or steam broccoli in the microwave for a quick side dish! Talk about a delicious and easy meal.