Deconstructed Lasagna, aka lazy lasagna, is pure comfort food and the perfect meal for busy weeknights or relaxing weekends. This simple version is made with a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese and lots of gooey mozzarella cheese.
Deconstructed lasagna is the perfect alternative when you are craving all the flavors of a traditional lasagna, but have no desire to spend hours in the kitchen assembling it. Each bite is packed with tangy marinara, ground turkey, pockets of creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella cheese.
The best part about this dish is it has all the delicious components of classic lasagna, without all the work and fuss. Your family and friends will love it!
Feeling like pasta, make sure to try these recipes, Mushroom Pesto Pasta and Creamy Mascarpone Tomato Sauce.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Tastes just like lasagna- If you are a fan of the classic lasagna, then you will love this version. It has all the indulgent flavors of lasagna, like meat sauce, ricotta cheese and mozzarella so you aren't missing out on anything!
- Perfect for a crowd- This recipe is perfect for gatherings. It's also a great dish to share with friends or bring to potlucks.
- Easy to make- For me, deconstructed really means "easy." And that's exactly what this lasagna dish is. No layering involved! Just toss the ingredients together, pop it in the oven until the cheese is melted and voila...dinner is done!
- Kid friendly- This less-complicated version is perfect for kids. Just spoon some into their bowls without having to worry about cutting and let them chow down!
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta- I used traditional lasagna noodles and break them into small bite-sized pieces. But feel free to use any kind of shaped pasta you like. Penne, rigatoni and ziti would all work fine.
- Meat- For this recipe, I used ground turkey. But you can also use ground beef.
- Sausage- I use a sweet Italian sausage and remove it from it's casing. This adds some extra fat and flavor to the meat sauce.
- Sauce- I took the easy route and used good ol' store-bought marinara sauce. Some of my favorites include Rao's Homemade Marinara and Trader Joe's Roasted Garlic Marinara.
- Ricotta- I used whole milk ricotta and mixed it with parmesan cheese, 1 egg, parsley, salt and pepper.
- Mozzarella cheese- I prefer fresh mozzarella cheese. You can cut it up, pull it apart or use mozzarella balls.
Step By Step Instructions
STEP 1: Brown the meats. In a large skillet or dutch oven, brown ground turkey, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain off any fat.
STEP 2: Add marinara. Stir in the pasta sauce and dried oregano. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
STEP 3: Cook pasta. Take lasagna noodles and break them into bite size pieces. Then, add noodles to boiling salted water and cook according to package instructions.
Once they are al dente, drain the water.
STEP 4: Make the cheese mixture. In a small bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan cheese, egg and chopped parsley. Then, season with salt and pepper.
STEP 5: Assemble: Preheat oven to 375°. Add cooked noodles to meat sauce. Stir until the noodles are well coated in the sauce. Then, add dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture, followed by the mozzarella cheese.
Place the skillet in the oven, uncovered. Bake until the cheese is completely melted. Then, garnish with chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese (optional).
Expert Tips
Do not overcook your noodles. Cook them just until they are al dente, meaning the pasta should be tender but firm to the bite. The pasta will continue to cook as it is tossed with the sauce and baked inside the oven.
If you do not have lasagna noodles, substitute your favorite pasta. Penne, rigatoni, fusilli, and ziti are all good options.
This recipe works best in a deep-sided skillet to keep all the ingredients from spilling over when you are tossing everything together. Also, make sure your skillet is oven-proof
Feel free to customize this recipe with the addition of bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms or a sprinkling of red pepper flakes for some added heat.
FAQ
This lasagna recipe has all the delicious flavors of traditional lasagna, but instead of being layered and baked inside the oven, the ingredients are cooked and tossed together inside a pan and finished in the oven until the cheese is melted.
Yes, you can. However, as the pasta sits, it will absorb and soak up the sauce so you may need to add extra marinara sauce to loosen things up once you are ready to serve.
A simple Italian salad, breadsticks, grilled vegetables, or garlic bread would go well with this recipe.
Storing and Reheating
Store this leftover deconstructed lasagna inside an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Reheating
To reheat, place the pasta inside a heat-proof bowl, drape with a damp paper towel and heat inside the microwave until warmed through.
For the oven, simply place your pasta in an oven-safe baking dish, cover it with foil and bake at 350℉ for 15 to 20 minutes.
More Recipes To Try
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📖 Recipe
Deconstructed Lasagna (Lazy Lasagna)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 8 oz Ground turkey
- 8 oz Italian sweet sausage ground
- 1 Yellow onion finely diced
- 3 cloves Garlic finely minced
- 24 oz Marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
- 1 ½ cups Ricotta cheese
- 1 Egg
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 tablespoon Italian parsley finely chopped
- 10 Lasagna noodles
- 8 oz Fresh mozzarella cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet or dutch oven, brown ground turkey, sausage, onion, and garlic over medium-high heat until no pink remains. Drain off any fat.
- Stir in the pasta sauce and dried oregano. Cover and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
- Take lasagna noodles and break them into bite-sized pieces. Then, add noodles to boiling salted water and cook according to package instructions. Once they are al dente, drain the water.
- In a small bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan cheese, egg and chopped parsley. Then, season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat oven to 375°. Add cooked noodles to meat sauce. Stir until the noodles are well coated in the sauce. Then, add dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture, followed by the mozzarella cheese.
- Place the skillet in the oven, uncovered. Bake until the cheese is completely melted. Then, garnish with chopped parsley and extra parmesan cheese (optional).
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