Lazy Lasagna

Name: Lazy Lasagna
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Ingredients: 10oz ricotta cheese; 1 egg; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon salt, divided, more to taste; 1 pound lean ground beef OR sweet Italian sausage; 2 teaspoon garlic, minced; 1 small yellow onion, diced; 1 small zucchini, sliced and quartered; 32oz jar marinara sauce; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/4 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped; 2 teaspoons dried oregano; 8oz lasagna noodles*, broken into smaller pieces; 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded, more if desired

Published on 01/30/24

by Erin Jensen

If you want the flavors of regular lasagna, but quick, look no further than this Lazy Lasagna. It’s an easy recipe that’s perfect for busy weeknights and is full of great flavor thanks to the perfect amount of seasonings, robust marinara sauce, and melty cheeses. Get ready to dig in!

Lazy lasagna in a skillet with two spoons.

The Easiest Recipe For Lazy Lasagna

What is lazy lasagna, you may ask? It’s exactly what you’d expect; full flavored bites of noodles, sauce, meat, and melty cheeses that make you feel the coziest during the winter months, all done in about 35 minutes. It’s a family favorite over here and made often thanks to simple ingredients and minimal prep. Get this on your weekday menu stat!

What You Will Need

ricotta cheese – A staple lasagna ingredient thanks to its thick and creamy texture.
egg – Helps to bind all these amazing flavors.
Italian seasoning – Forgot to grab some at the store? No worries. Make the homemade version using a few pantry staples.
lemon juice – Just a little bit to add some citrus and brighten flavors.
salt & ground black pepper – Don’t forget these OG seasonings.
lean ground beef – Feel free to use sweet Italian sausage if that’s your preference.
garlic – Equal parts earthy, nutty, and pungent.
yellow onion – Gives the ground beef a depth of flavor that can’t be missed!
zucchini – Perfectly cooked to give you some heartiness and a subtle veggie in each bite.
marinara sauce – Store bought works, or try your hand at our homemade marinara sauce.
fresh basil – Adds a bit of savory and sweet notes with a bit mint.
dried oregano – The perfect aromatic seasoning for this easy lasagna recipe.
lasagna noodles – Traditional lasagna noodles really make this dish feel like the classic, but feel free to sub with your favorite pasta.
mozzarella cheese – A creamy melty cheese to make this dish feel extra cozy.

How To Make Lazy Lasagna

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and fill a large pot with water and let it heat up to a boil while you’re assembling the rest of your ingredients. This is the water that you’ll cook your noodles in.

individual bowls of Italian seasoning, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, chopped zucchini, an egg, lemon juice, mozzarella cheese, salt, ground pepper, broken up lasagna noodles, and ricotta cheese.

Next, mix together the ricotta cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, lemon juice, and half a teaspoon of salt and set the mixture aside.

Ricotta cheese, egg, pepper, salt, and italian seasoning in a bowl and then in a bowl mixed together.

By now the water on the stove top should be at a boil, so add in your lasagna noodles and cook them to al dente per the package directions, drain and set aside. To keep them from sticking, add a little drizzle of oil over the top and toss.

While your noodles are cooking, get started on the ground beef. Heat up a cast iron skillet and add your ground beef (or Italian sausage) and move it around the pan until it’s cooked evenly and drain the excess grease. Then add in the chopped zucchini.

Cooked and broken up ground italian sausage in a skillet with quartered zucchini.

Next, add in the garlic and onion and move them around the pan for about 2 minutes or until fragrant and softened. Then add in the marinara sauce, pepper, basil, oregano, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt and stir to combine.

Marinara, fresh basil, salt, and italian seasoning on mix mixture and then mixed into the meat mixture.

Grab your cooked noodles and add them into the meat and sauce mixture.

Cooked lasagna noodles on top of the meat and sauce mixture.

Now for the cheese! Dollop little pockets of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodle and sauce mixture and then top with shredded mozzarella cheese. Then loosely cover the skillet with some aluminum foil to keep the cheese from burning and pop it on the middle rack of the oven and let cook for 20ish minutes or until you notice the cheese is getting nice and bubbly.

Recipe Tip:

You can always remove the foil for the last 5 minutes if you want the top to be a bit more browned.

Dollops of the ricotta cheese on top of the noodles and then shredded mozzarella topped on top of it all.

Remove your lazy lasagna casserole from the oven and add a few more fresh basil leaves and freshly grated parmesan cheese extra flavor and the perfect finishing touch.

Baked lazy lasagna in a skillet garnished with fresh basil.

Now dig in! The end result is a warm, melty dish with fresh herbs and well seasoned protein that the entire family will devour. We love serving this homemade lasagna with warm garlic bread and a simple green salad for a refreshing crunch.

A wooden spoon pulling out a serving of lazy lasagna from the skillet.

Recipe FAQs

What pasta should I use in lazy lasagna?

We love using traditional lasagna noodles, but feel free to use your favorite pasta variety.

How to store lazy lasagna

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Is lazy lasagna gluten-free?

It can be if you use gluten-free noodles

How to make lazy lasagna dairy-free

Use dairy-free cheese.

Made this recipe and loved it?!

We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!

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