Classic Lasagna

A classic meat Lasagna using no cook noodles and low fat ricotta cheese. Great to make ahead and freeze for later!

I travel a few times a year and try to do my best to have frozen meals available for my wife to cook. Like most family’s, this time of year is also extremely busy with our 3 kids in sports. I will be out of town for a few days, later this week, so today I made a double batch of Lasagna.

The best recipe I have found is on the back of Barilla’s no-cook noodle lasagne box. I use this recipe as a base and add my own twist. This is an easy recipe and building the casserole takes most of your time. My wife does not like sausage, so I use a mixture of ground beef and pork, seasoned dry Italian seasonings for flavor.

Using the no-cook noodles also makes it easy to spread the ricotta cheese mixture. I use a rubber spatula and spread the mixture on the noodle before placing in the pan. There you have it 2 – 3 great dinners with only 45 minutes of work. Your spouse and kids will love you for the effort and great food. Serve with a side salad and garlic bread.

Lasagna Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Brown ground beef and pork. Season meat with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Drain off fat and crumple with back of wooden spoon. Spray baking pans with non-stick cooking spray, set aside. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add ricotta, 3 cups mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan, mix on low speed, until blended. Spread each pan with one cup marinara sauce. Spread a layer of ricotta cheese mixture on 8 noodles and place 4 per pan, overlapping the noodles. Add 1/4 of meat mixture to each pan Top meat with 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spread 1 cup sauce over cheese.Layer 4 more noodles, spread with ricotta mixture, to each pan and top with remaining meat and another cup of sauce. Add a final layer of noodles spread with ricotta and cover with sauce. Top with remaining shredded mozzarella. Cover both pans with foil. Label and freeze one pan. Bake lasagna for one hour, covered. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

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Lasagna

Prep Time

45 mins

Cook Time

1 hr 15 mins

Total Time

2 hrs

 

A classic meat Lasagna using no cook noodles and low fat ricotta cheese. Double the recipe because it's simple to make ahead and freeze for later.

Course: Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: 12

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 tablespoon dry Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 (9 oz) Boxes Barilla no-cook Lasagne noodles
• 4 eggs
• 2 (15 oz) containers part skim ricotta cheese
• 6 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, you can also use Italian four cheese blend
• 4 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce
• 2 13 x 9 x 2 inch - deep disposable aluminum baking pan
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375° F.

2. Brown ground beef and pork. Season meat with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Drain off fat and crumple with back of wooden spoon.
3. Spray baking pans with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
4. In large mixing bowl, beat eggs. Add ricotta, 3 cups mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan, mix on low speed, until blended .
5. Spread each pan with one cup marinara sauce.
6. Spread a layer of ricotta cheese mixture on 8 noodles and place 4 per pan, overlapping the noodles.
7. Add 1/4 of meat mixture to each pan
8. Top meat with 1/2 cup mozzarella. Spread 1 cup sauce over cheese.
9. Layer 4 more noodles, spread with ricotta mixture, to each pan and top with remaining meat and another cup of sauce.
10. Add a final layer of noodles spread with ricotta and cover with sauce. Top with remaining shredded mozzarella.
11. Cover both pans with foil. Label and freeze one pan.
12. Bake lasagna for one hour, covered. Remove foil and bake for another 5-10 minutes.

Recipe Notes

-First published by Quinn Caudill for DadWhats4Dinner.com ©2013

I will be bringing my Classic Lasagna recipe to Freedom Fridays, Friday Favorites, Fiesta Friday, Weekend Potluck, What’s Cooking Wednesdays. Checkout my Link Parties page for other great places to find new recipes.