I heart lasagna. Specifically, I heart the end result of lasagna.
I don’t heart the creating of lasagna. I just have a mental block on lasagna…which is why there aren’t that many lasagna recipe on this here little website. There are a few, but not many. I think lasagna is pretty budget friendly…it makes a lot, it’s filling and it freezes well (in case you have leftovers – I recommend cutting into single serving squares and freezing individual portions in small plastic container…easy peasy lunch right there!)
Anywhoo…
I’m just lazy I guess. It’s the layering, I think. Which is funny because I don’t mind making layered enchiladas or even tray after tray after tray of rolled enchiladas.
Well, we can be glad for my mental block…because it resulted in this. A pasta bake…with all the flavors of lasagna. Less layering, same delicious end result.
It looks like this…
Layer of cooked (to al dente) small shell pasta.
Layer of meat sauce.
Layer of cottage-cheese-y goodness. (I use cottage cheese because it’s cheaper than ricotta. Do a 1-to-1 sub of ricotta in the recipe below, if you prefer!)
Layer of sauce.
Layer of cheese.
Boom.
Yes, it’s still layers, but it’s easier and faster to prep. (At least in my head!)
And the KIDS LOVE THIS TOO!!!!!
P.S. Make gluten free with small shell gluten free pasta. Tough to make this dairy free, sorry!
P.P.S. I shared this recipe with our MyFreezEasy members last month and it quickly made it’s way to the “top of the charts” into the #3 spot! I suspect by the end of this month, it will be the most popular MyFreezEasy recipe! (Don’t know what I’m talking about, learn more here.)
Buon appetito!!!!
Lazy Lasagna Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 oz. small shell pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 Tbsp minced onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 24 oz. cottage cheese
- 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 - egg s
- 2 - Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 26 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
- Salt and pepper
- Side: salad
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Cook the pasta to al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and add to 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large saucepan, brown the ground beef with the minced onion, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Drain and gently toss with the pasta in the baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cottage cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, all of the Parmesan cheese, eggs, and Italian seasoning.
- Spread the cheese mixture in and around the pasta in the baking dish. Top with spaghetti sauce and add the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10 minutes.
- Prepare the salad.
- Serve Lazy Lasagna Bake with salad.
Pin all of our 31 Days of Kid Friendly Recipes here!
See all of our 31 Days of Kid Friendly Recipes here!
Other 31 Days of Series to check out:
- 31 Days of 5-Ingredient Meals
- 31 Days of 31-Minute Dinners
- 31 Days of Breakfast Recipes
- 31 Days of Budget Friendly Paleo Recipes
- 31 Days of Chili, Soups & Stews
- 31 Days of FreezEasy Meals
- 31 Days of Freezer Cooking Recipes
- 31 Days of Gluten Free Meals
- 31 Days of Grilling Recipes
- 31 Days of Healthy Snacks
- 31 Days of Holiday Sweets & Treats
- 31 Days of Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
- 31 Days of School Lunchbox Ideas
- 31 Days of Skillet Dinner Recipes
- 31 Days of Slow Cooker Meals
- 31 Days of Summer Slow Cooker Meals
Hélène says
Yup, lasagna is just spaghetti with creamy cheeses like ricotta and mozz. I do a crockpot spaghetti with cottage chs or ricotta. Parm on top…YUM and super easy. And I throw spinach or dandelion/beets greens or baby greens in it. So, extra nutritious!
The dairy tho, makes a cheap meal (spaghetti) pricey 🙁 I dont think this lasagna is $5 for 4svgs anymore. And I get as much dairy at Aldi’s as I can.
LL says
This didn’t come out that great for me. But I cooked it in a cast iron and popped that in the oven, not a glass baking dish so perhaps that’s why. The cheese layer didn’t “settle in” to the noodles all that much.