Olive Garden 5-Cheese Lasagna (Copycat Recipe)

Teresa M's Note:

Really good lasagna! If you love Olive Garden's 5-cheese lasagna then you'll love this one! We like it with 1/2 lb. ground beef and 1/2 lb. Italian sausage in it.

• Total Time: 2 hrs
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 8

CREAM SAUCE

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups milk

CHEESE FILLING

• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato packed in oil, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh garlic, minced
• 3 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated romano cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

OTHER

• 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1 cup spinach lasagna noodles or 1 cup regular lasagna noodle, if unavailable
• marinara sauce, as desired
• extra parmesan cheese, freshly grated

Directions:

1. Melt butter with medium heat in heavy 1 quart saucepan.
2. Add flour and stir until well blended; cook until frothy.
3. Add milk, stirring constantly with wire whisk as mixture comes to a simmer.
4. Cook and stir until thickened (3-4 minutes).
5. Chill while mixing other ingredients.
6. Drain and mince tomatoes and garlic.
7. Place other cheese filling ingredients in 3-quart mixing bowl with tomatoes and garlic.
8. Add 1-1/2 cups of cooled cream sauce and mix until well blended.
9. Refrigerate, reserving 1/2-cup for later use.
10. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.
11. Cool under cold water and drain.
12. Place 3 lasagna noodles in a 9x13x2 lightly oiled baking dish, overlapping slightly.
13. Spread 1-1/2 cups cheese filling over noodles; sprinkle with one cup mozzarella and 1/4-cup fontina cheese.
14. Repeat pasta and cheese layering; top with remaining three lasagna noodles.
15. Spread 1/2-cup of reserved cream sauce over top and cover lightly with foil.
16. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 1 hour.

Reviews

[Aric Ross]

This was one of the most distinguished and satisfying lasagnas I have had. The variety of cheeses combined with a stove-top cream come together in a flavorful burst of palate-pleasing surprises! The actual prep time and cook time of this recipe was far easier than I had expected and the ingredients should all be readily available anywhere. I chose to omit the marina sauce and just go for a cheese lasagna with only the sun dried tomatos. However, a few of my guests adore marina, so all I did was serve a side bowl of marina sauce with the lasagna and those who desired the marina could simply drizzle their servings. A wonderful recipe. Thanks so much!

[Abby, Sarah & Eli's Mom]

A marvelous dish with excellent flavour. I took heed of the fact many commented on the lack of white sauce and doubled the recipe. I had just enough. This will become a special treat in my house. I found another recipe site with this recipe and found that the recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of fontina to be devided evenly and spread between the layers of the lasagna with mozzarella. http://www.grouprecipes.com/35633/olive-garden-5-cheese-lasagna.html. I only gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because in my heart healthy home this recipe is going to be a once in a while dish.

[WJKing]

Very good. Kids gobbled it up, too! NOTE THAT THE FONTINA CHEESE ISN'T IN THE INGREDIENT LIST. It was delicious even without! :) Thanks for sharing!