Delightful No-Boil Lasagna for Busy Weeknights
60
min
690
Calories
38g
Fats
47g
Carbs
44g
Protein
Dive into this Quick and Easy No-Boil Lasagna, perfect for any weekday dinner. This recipe combines the comforting tastes of rich cheeses, hearty beef, and savory sauce, all layered between tender lasagna noodles. Ready in just about an hour, it's a flavorful, satisfying dish that promises to delight your taste buds.
Ingredients:
Step 1: Preheat and Fry
Start your lasagna by setting your oven to preheat at 375F. While the oven warms up, take a skillet and fry the ground beef until it's thoroughly cooked and starts to get crispy. Doing so not only adds texture but also deepens the flavor of your lasagna. This step lays the foundational taste for our no-boil lasagna.
Pro Tip: For extra flavor, season beef with salt and pepper as it cooks.
Step 2: Layer Sauce
Take a small amount of your pasta sauce and spread it at the bottom of your baking dish. This not only prevents sticking but also ensures that your first layer of no-boil lasagna noodles has something moist to cook into. It's a simple but critical step that ensures every bite is flavorful and the lasagna layers come apart seamlessly.
Pro Tip: Use a light hand to avoid soggy bottom layers.
Step 3: Beef and Sauce Mixture
Mix the remaining pasta sauce into the fully cooked ground beef. This is your chance to adjust the seasoning to your liking with herbs like rosemary, oregano, and thyme. Mixing the pasta sauce with the beef creates a rich and cohesive layer for the lasagna, ensuring that every bite is robust in flavor. It's all about building those layers of yumminess.
Pro Tip: A dash of red wine in the sauce can add depth.
Step 4: Assemble the Lasagna
Begin assembling your lasagna by laying down your first layer of no-boil lasagna noodles over the sauce. Overlap if necessary and feel free to break pieces to fit. Spoon dollops of cottage cheese over this, followed by a layer of shredded mozzarella. This step is all about texture and taste. The cottage cheese adds a nice creaminess while the mozzarella promises that delightful stretchy cheese pull we all love in a lasagna.
Pro Tip: Even distribution of cheese ensures every bite is perfect.
Step 5: Layering Continues
After your initial layer of cheeses, add another layer of the beef and pasta sauce mixture, then more noodles, and repeat. The joy of layering showcases the beauty of lasagna; it's all about creating those perfect strata of flavors and textures. When you reach the top, finish with the rest of your meat sauce, a final layer of mozzarella, and a generous sprinkling of Parmesan for that golden, crispy top.
Pro Tip: The last layer of cheese is your moment to shine.
Step 6: Bake the Lasagna
Cover your lasagna dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. The steam trapped inside will help cook the noodles perfectly. After this time, remove the cover to allow the top to become golden and bubbly, baking for an additional 10 minutes. This final step crisps up the cheese for a visually stunning and deliciously textured top layer that's irresistible.
Pro Tip: Removing the cover lets the top get perfectly golden.
