Lazy Lasagna

3KillerBs's Note:

Because it’s too much trouble messing with lasagna noodles and making those careful layers. The quality of the chosen sauce is key. A friend of mine couldn't figure out how she could make the same recipe I did but mine was better until we realized that she was buying a cheap, minimally seasoned spaghetti sauce. Use more or less sauce according to how wet your family prefers lasagna. Lazy Lasagna is easy to halve or double, just adjust the cooking time for the smaller or larger pan.

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 12

• 1 lb rotini pasta or 1 lb pasta shells or 1 lb macaroni
• 1 lb ground beef or 1 lb bulk Italian sausage , browned and drained
• 1 lb ricotta cheese
• 1 lb pre-shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• 1 -2 quart spaghetti sauce (I prefer Classico)
• olive oil

Directions:

1. Cook pasta a bit less than fully done.
2. Grease a 9x13 pan with olive oil.
3. Layer 1/2 the amount each of pasta, ground beef, ricotta, parmesan, spaghetti sauce, and mozzarella in that order.
4. Repeat except for the mozzarella.
5. Draw a wooden spoon through the layers in an S-shaped pattern to mesh the layers without actually stirring them together.
6. Top with the remaining mozzarella.
7. Bake at 350F for 30-45 minutes or until the cheese is as brown as you like it and everything is bubbling hot.
8. Note -- steamed and drained zucchini or very well-drained, frozen spinach is a good addition.
9. Note -- Can substitute ground turkey or chunks of cooked chicken/turkey for the ground beef if desired.

Reviews

[Annette NC]

This makes a ton, but my husband loved it and had no problems eating leftovers on this!

[BecR]

Classico 'Italian Sausage w/Peppers & Onions' sauce was good in this. Added in some sliced zucchinis to the boiling noodles for the last 5 minutes--very nice touch! Not your traditional lasagna in that it does not slice well, but very deelish nonetheless! Thanks for sharing this 'lazy day' meal with us, 3KillerB's!

[Chicago Clare]

Great idea! I used Rotini pasta, added some spinich to the ricotta like I do when I make the "real thing" and threw everything together. I only baked it 20 min under 425 heat to brown the cheese and warm through the cheeses since the pasta and sauce were hot from being cooked up. Nice and fast!