Quick Lasagna Recipe

Making lasagna can be very time consuming but my quick method of making this classic Italian dish comes out great every time and in a pinch absolutely delicious.


It's great on the weeknights and my methods of using leftovers or store-bought will determine just how fast you can get this lasagna on your tables.


I have both a stovetop method of making this or in the oven.


Semi-homemade or if you make everything on your own, using some tricks here will save you lots of time and add a new favorite to the family menu!


This has surely become a family favorite when the kids were little and they still love it now.


I still make mom's from-scratch homemade lasagna recipe around the holiday, but this can be made in no time all week long!


Mom always had shortcut meals we loved like her Italian Goulash, Leftover Meat, Pasta and Beans Sausage with Pasta East End Style, and a favorite Mom's Ricotta Penne Pasta.


If you hate to cook, just follow this simple guideline and shortcuts of suggestions and let's get cooking!


Scroll down to the recipe card for tips and printable suggestions.

Easiest Lasagna Casserole Ever!

Here is a short cut version of our love for lasagna.


Sometimes you have to get a little creative to make it happen.


This came out terrific although it took me half the time.

Suggestions:

1. Use any kind of frozen meatballs or make your own seasoned hamburger.
2. Adding a little fennel seed ( around 1 teaspoon) will make the ground meat taste more like sausage.
3. I usually layer my lasagna the day before then bake it when it's almost time to serve, the flavors are enhanced.
4. Buy the no-boil lasagna or this casserole is done with broken up regular lasagna noodles.
5. If you use ziti or bow ties even regular egg noodles, this is referred to as poor man's lasagna, but they all work.
6. Lasagna can be time-consuming for sure and these shortcuts will help save loads of time.
7. Ravioli can be used for the easiest method and layer with or without ricotta cheese.
8. For vegetarian lovers, add a layer of thin-sliced zucchini, eggplant or peppers instead of meat.

Tip:

• If you really want to make this even faster, buy pre-boiled noodles, break them up, layer and bake!
• Any kind of pasta works no matter what shape you choose
• When frying the ground beef add 1 teaspoon of fennel for a sausage flavored meat sauce
• Use bottled sauce instead of homemade
• Keep mozzarella cheese in the freezer to always have on hand
• Using frozen ravioli shortened another step of mixing the ricotta cheese, just layer your casserole with cheese ravioli and try to find the extra large-sized pasta
• You may need extra sauce however since it absorbs so much more of the sauce
• I also make my original with crushed meatballs and homemade sausage. See how fast this one will come together and still make everyone happy
• Use disposable tins for easy cleanup

Ingredients You Will Need for Quick Lasagna Recipe

• lasagna noodles regular or no-boil kinds, or use bow ties or large ravioli frozen
• ground beef total either a combo of sausage and beef or all beef can be used.
• Store-bought meatballs can be used instead of ground beef thawed and crushed
• Italian tomato sauce homemade or store-bought
• Ricotta cheese
• eggs
• shredded mozzarella
• dried Italian herbs
• salt and pepper to taste in everything
• oil
• fresh garlic or granulated garlic powder
• grated cheese
• Optional: fennel seed, fresh parsley, and fresh basil chopped

Quick Lasagna Pin for later

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I have now given suggestions on how to use any pasta to make a quick style lasagna in no time.


Of course, you can always use any or all these choices homemade from scratch, using leftover homemade sauce and fried homemade meatballs.


If you want to do this all on the stovetop, no problem here is even another quick way to get a semi-homemade meal on the table quickly below.


Break up your pasta of choice and boil it.


Drain the pasta.


Layer the pasta in your deep saucepan with the store-bought sauce, mixed ricotta as directed, more sauce and pasta, crushed thawed frozen meatballs, grated cheese ending with mozzarella shredded on top.


Heat until cheese is melted and viola, you have stovetop semi-homemade lasagna helper, Italian American style of course!


Again, the real shortcut is to use frozen cooked ravioli and omit the ricotta and proceed the same way.


If you are a busy cook, this will wow your family and friends and everyone loves this quick easy recipe.

Quick Lasagna Recipe

Yield: 10

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

prep time: 25 Mcook time: 15 Mtotal time: 40 M

This is a quick lasagna that comes together in no time with little ingredients. A perfect throw together weekday meal!

ingredients:

• 1 package lasagna noodles broken up and boiled to package instructions. or any kind of pasta you like cooked to package instructions and drained
• Or use no-boil lasagna and just layer them broken in have in a casserole dish uncooked.
• Note: you can also use large boiled cheese ravioli (around 3 pounds of frozen pasta) and omit the ricotta cheese step or if you love cheese still layer your casserole with ricotta.
• You will need two pounds of ground beef total either a combo of sausage and beef or all beef can be used. You can also buy frozen meatballs, thawed and crushed for your filling.
• 4 o 5 cups Italian sauce homemadeor store-bought
• 1 lb Ricotta cheese mixed with 1 egg and 1 tablespoon grating cheese, 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• shredded mozzarella I used around 16 ounces ( save some for the top)
• salt and pepper to taste in everything
• grated cheese around 1/2 cup Parmesan/Romano

instructions:

How to cook Quick Lasagna Recipe

1.  Heat a frypan with a few tablespoons of oil.
2. Fry the ground hamburger meat ( you can either add 1 pound of loose Italian sausage together or just use all ground beef with 1 teaspoon of fennel seed instead of sausage meat for flavor. Another option is to buy frozen meatballs crush them with a fork. Set meat aside.
3. Cook pasta of choice.
4. Drain don't rinse, the sauce clings to the pasta better.
5. In the meantime, while the noodles cook:
6. Mix ricotta cheese with the egg, grated cheese, garlic,  salt and pepper to taste.
7. Assembling:
8. First, add a ladle of sauce to the bottom of your 13 by 9 casserole dish.
9. Layer pasta, sprinkle with a little grated cheese, mozzarella, ricotta cheese.
10. Add another layer of noodles, add sauce, etc, then meat, more ending with pasta on top more sauce, mozzarella, and grated cheese.
11. Bake until cheese melts around 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees preheated oven.
12. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and basil is optional.

Calories
268

Fat (grams)
11

Sat. Fat (grams)
8

Carbs (grams)
29

Net carbs
15

https://www.whatscookinitalianstylecuisine.com/2015/01/quick-lasagna-recipe.html

quick lasagna, mock lasagna, ravioli lasagna, fast lasagna, Italian classic pasta dish

pasta recipes, Italian pasta, casseroles, meat and cheese pasta recipes

Italian American

Created using The Recipes Generator

Other Lasagna Recipes:

Mom's Homemade Lasagna

Lasagna Soup

Quick Lasagna Pin for later

Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2015. It was edited and re-published in 2020.