No Fuss Lasagna

Servings: 4 servings Difficulty: Advanced
Hearty make-ahead lasagna with rich meat sauce and creamy cottage cheese filling
N0 Fuss Lasagna recipe image

This “No-Fuss” Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights or crowd-pleasing dinners. It combines a savory, slow-simmered beef and tomato sauce with a surprisingly light yet creamy layer of cottage cheese, eggs, and melted cheddar and mozzarella. The beauty of this recipe lies in its convenience: you can assemble it entirely with uncooked noodles and refrigerate it overnight, allowing the pasta to soften before baking. This results in a tender, cohesive slice that holds together perfectly. The flavors are classic Italian-American, featuring garlic, parsley, and a balance of sharp cheddar and mild mozzarella. It’s a satisfying, protein-packed main dish that tastes even better the next day.

No Fuss Lasagna

Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 4 servings Calories: 563.3

Description

This "No-Fuss" Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights or crowd-pleasing dinners. It combines a savory, slow-simmered beef and tomato sauce with a surprisingly light yet creamy layer of cottage cheese, eggs, and melted cheddar and mozzarella. The beauty of this recipe lies in its convenience: you can assemble it entirely with uncooked noodles and refrigerate it overnight, allowing the pasta to soften before baking. This results in a tender, cohesive slice that holds together perfectly. The flavors are classic Italian-American, featuring garlic, parsley, and a balance of sharp cheddar and mild mozzarella. It's a satisfying, protein-packed main dish that tastes even better the next day.

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, brown the ground beef over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon.
  2. Drain the excess fat from the cooked beef.
  3. Add the tomato paste, water, spaghetti sauce, sugar, parsley, salt, garlic powder, and pepper to the beef.
  4. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover partially and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. While the sauce simmers, in a medium bowl, combine the beaten eggs, cottage cheese, half of the cheddar cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese.
  6. Spoon one-third of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 13x9-inch baking dish.
  7. Place half of the uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, breaking them to fit if necessary.
  8. Top the noodles with one-third of the remaining meat sauce and press down gently.
  9. Spread the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the sauce and noodles.
  10. Cover with the remaining uncooked noodles and the rest of the meat sauce.
  11. Cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 4 hours) to allow the noodles to absorb moisture.
  12. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  13. Bake the covered lasagna for 1 hour.
  14. Remove the foil, sprinkle with the remaining cheddar and mozzarella cheese.
  15. Bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  16. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before cutting to allow it to set.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 4 servings


Amount Per Serving
Calories 563.3kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 26.5g41%
Saturated Fat 10.4g52%
Cholesterol 132.8mg45%
Sodium 766.0mg32%
Total Carbohydrate 29.6g10%
Dietary Fiber 4.8g20%
Sugars 10.2g
Protein 50.7g102%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: lasagna, beef, cottage cheese, comfort food, easy dinner, make ahead, pasta bake, family meal, italian, cheese, tomato sauce, ground beef
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