You can get this lazy lasagna in the oven in about 20 minutes! This hearty recipe is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or a make ahead meal.
I say my kids are picky eaters, but they really aren’t that bad. As they get older, they are each willing to try more new foods. I told you about getting them to eat (and even enjoy) Chicken Tetrazzini recently, which was a major victory. Now we can add lasagna to our list of family favorites.
To be completely honest, my 10-year-old hasn’t actually tried this lazy lasagna yet. He is off on a three-night science field trip this week with the rest of fifth grade. I could have chaperoned the trip, but it sounded an awful lot like camping to me. Three minute showers? Sleeping in a cabin full of 10-year-old girls who aren’t even mine? No cell phone service? Um, let me think about it for a minute. NO THANKS!
Fortunately, my son was not worried at all about being away from his family for a few days, so we could feel totally fine skipping it. (I say “we” as if there was any possible chance my husband would have gone…) Meanwhile, our 5-year-old is getting a few days of feeling like an only child for the first time ever. I’m sure he misses his brother, but I think he is liking the extra attention.
What does camping have to do with lasagna? I was getting to that… My little one, I think maybe by accident, tried lasagna at school lunch one day and said he really liked it. I wanted to capitalize on that experience, so I decided to make him homemade lasagna. I wasn’t sure if my older kid would like it, so I decided to make it while he is off camping. I can call this lazy lasagna a family favorite since all the family members present enjoyed it :)
What makes this recipe lazy? I was getting to that too! I think a lot of the work of lasagna is the assembly. Layers of noodles, meat, seasoned cheese, another kind of cheese, and whatever else you want to put in there really takes a while. In the spirit of “it’s all going to the same place,” I thought it would be easier if we consolidated some of those ingredients. In this lazy version, there are only three very quick and simple layers, so it comes together in no time!
I also must insist that you try no-boil lasagna noodles if you haven’t already. Who the heck wants to boil, drain, and arrange (without tearing) noodles when you can just use dry lasagna right out of the box?? Not this weary chef, that’s for sure. I LOVE no-boil lasagna, and Target has a gluten-free version!
With the shortcut noodles and limited layers, this lazy lasagna can be in the oven in about 20 minutes. That might sound like a while, but half of the time is spent cooking the onions and meat. If you’d like to add mushrooms or spinach to this recipe, I highly recommend it. I kept the recipe simple this time and served it with a vegetable on the side, but it would be delicious with extra veggies baked right in. (If you’re looking for a vegetarian recipe, you should check out my Spinach Artichoke Lasagna!)
My son told me that my version was even better than the school cafeteria lasagna. Yesssss! Now, if only I could get them to like my mac and cheese as much as the boxed stuff…
| Prep Time | 20 minutes |
| Cook Time | 60 minutes |
| Passive Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
- 1 sweet onion chopped
- 3 large cloves garlic minced
- 16 ounces lean ground beef
- 2 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning (salt free)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 28 ounces jarred pasta sauce
- 16 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 8-12 NO-BOIL lasagna noodles
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese (or more to taste)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried basil (optional)
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13" baking dish with cooking spray, and set aside.
- Melt butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, and saute for 3 minutes or until tender and translucent.
- Stir in garlic, and saute 1 minute longer.
- Add ground beef, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Crumble meat and saute with the onions until meat is cooked through. Drain meat if desired, but it probably isn't necessary with lean beef.
- Stir in pasta sauce and cottage cheese until well combined.
- Spread about 1/3 of the meat mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Arrange uncooked lasagna noodles over the meat, and spread about a cup of cheese over the noodle.
- Repeat the previous step (1/3 meat, noodles, and cheese) once more.
- Spread remaining meat over the top. Cover pan with foil, and bake for 45 minutes.
- Carefully remove foil, and sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top of the lasagna. Sprinkle basil over the cheese if desired. Bake an additional 15 minutes, or until cheese on top is melted and slightly brown.
- Allow lasagna to cool for about 15 minutes before cutting and serving. Enjoy!
Want an even lazier lasagna recipe? Try this 30-minute Skillet Lasagna!
Alexandria Stephens says
I made this and I love it . I’m not a huge fan of ricotta or cottage cheese, so mixing it in the meat was a great idea! This was super easy and tasty.
Candi says
Can this be made ahead, say a day or so?
Donna says
I’ve tried a lasagna like this before, but I don’t understand mixing the cottage cheese into the meat sauce. I mix it with the cheeses (it is a cheese!). Mixing it with the meat sauce seems kinda gross!
Andi Gleeson says
Hi, Donna! Since all the layers get a bit mixed together when they bake anyway, it doesn’t seem gross to me to mix the cheese with the sauce. You can definitely do it separately though if you prefer! I did it this way to save prep time. It’s really fast to pour/spread the meat mixture and sprinkle shredded mozzarella. Thanks for your comment :)