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Lasagna Casserole

This easy lasagna casserole has all the flavors of classic lasagna with a fraction of the work! Tender pasta, hearty ground beef marinara, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan are layered and baked until hot, saucy, and deliciously cheesy.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Keyword ground beef casseroles, lasagna recipes, pasta casserole recipes, pasta casseroles
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Calories 648kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces campanelle
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, divided, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
  • 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
  • 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil
  • 3 cups mozzarella, divided
  • 1 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan divided
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
  • Cook pasta (12 ounces) in well-salted water per package instructions until just al dente. Save 1/2 cup of the cooking water before draining. Drain well. Return drained pasta to the cooking pot.
  • In a large skillet, add olive oil (1 tablespoon) and sauté onion (½ cup) and garlic (4 cloves) over medium heat until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.
    Step 1 how to make lasagna casserole, saute the onion and garlic
  • Add ground beef (1 pound), salt (1 teaspoon), and pepper to onions and garlic and continue to cook over medium heat until there is no longer any pink in the beef. Drain and discard excess fat.
    Step 2 how to make lazy lasagna casserole, add the ground beef and cook until browned
  • Add the marinara sauce (2 jars), Italian seasoning (2 teaspoons), and reserved pasta water (1/2 cup) and cook until heated through. Pour sauce over drained pasta (in the pot pasta was cooked in) and toss to coat.
    Step 4 how to make lazy lasagna casserole, pour the sauce over the cooked pasta and toss to coat
  • In a mixing bowl, stir together the remaining (2 cloves garlic), ricotta cheese (15 ounces), egg (1), nutmeg (1/8 teaspoon), fresh basil (1/4 cup), remaining Italian seasoning (2 teaspoons) until evenly combined. Add 2 cups of mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan and stir until combined.
    Step 6 how to make lazy lasagna casserole, mix in the mozzarella and parmesan

Easy Assembly

  • Pour half the pasta in prepared baking dish, spread the cheese mixture over the pasta layer, then pour the remaining pasta over cheese layer. Use a spatula to press down the casserole.
    Step 9 how to make lasagna casserole, pour the remaining pasta over cheese layer
  • Spray one side of a large sheet of aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray. Cover casserole with foil, sprayed side touching casserole. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  • Remove foil, top with remaining Mozzarella (1 cup) and remaining Parmesan (1/2 cup), return to the oven and bake uncovered, for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted. If you'd like the top more browned, place under the broiler until browned to your liking.
    Step 10 how to make lazy lasagna casserole, bake covered with aluminum foil

Notes

  • Don’t overcook the pasta. Cook the pasta just until al dente since it will continue cooking in the oven. Overcooking it initially can make the finished casserole soft or mushy.
  • The extra sauce is intentional. I’ve tested this casserole with just 24 ounces of marinara, but my family and taste testers all preferred it with 48 ounces. The extra sauce keeps the casserole moist and saucy after baking.
  • Swap the ground beef for Italian sausage. For even more flavor, use mild or hot Italian sausage in place of the ground beef.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 648kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 132mg | Sodium: 1674mg | Potassium: 912mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1452IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 504mg | Iron: 4mg