Easy Lasagna Casserole Recipe
Lasagna casserole with ground beef, ricotta, and tender pasta, ready in 45 minutes.
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Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef lean
- 1 medium sweet onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 16 ounces pasta Campanelle or Rotini or Fusilli
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes not drained – sub pasta sauce if desired
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese substitute cottage cheese if desired
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 large egg beaten
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain.
- Add the onion, garlic, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until onion is soft and the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine.
- Add the ground beef back in and stir to combine.
- In a large bowl combine the ricotta cheese, half the mozzarella cheese, and the beaten egg.
- Add in the pasta and stir to combine.
- Spread the cheese and pasta mixture in the pan.
- Top with the meat and tomato mixture.
- Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese is melted.
- Remove and let sit 5 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Cook the pasta 1 to 2 minutes short of the package directions so it doesn't turn mushy after you bake it.
- Add a splash of pasta water to the meat mixture to tighten it up a little bit and add flavor.
- Use a deep skillet so you have room to stir everything without a separate bowl. NO extra dishes!
- Add Parmesan on top along with the mozzarella for extra cheesy coverage.
- Let it rest 5 minutes after baking so it sets up before you serve it.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 | Calories: 588kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 764mg | Potassium: 707mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 690IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 353mg | Iron: 4mg
