SIGN UP FOR MY FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER DELICIOUS FAMILY-FRIENDLY RECIPE

Real Life Dinner

Recipes your real life family will love!

  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Apraxia
  • Family
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google Plus
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • RSS

September 20, 2017 Leave a Comment

Easy Lasagna Casserole

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2This Easy Lasagna Casserole is a simple weeknight dinner the whole family will love. A couple weeks ago, I had some leftover Amazing Spaghetti Sauce and half a bag of spinach I needed to use up. When I spied a container of Ricotta Cheese in the back of the fridge, I knew I wanted to try something that was somewhere between a baked ziti and a lasagna.

The result was this Easy Lasagna Casserole. My family raved that it was delicious, and I LOVED how simple it was to throw together. It’s definitely going to be my go-to for leftover spaghetti sauce from here on out.

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-1

More Recipes with Pasta

  • Five Minute Pesto Alfredo Sauce with Chicken
  • Beef and Peppers with Egg Noodles
  • Angel Hair Pasta with Garlic and Parmesan
  • Sausage and Sweet Potato Tortellini Soup
  • Creamy Bacon Spaghetti
  • Amazing Stuffed Shells

When I make my spaghetti sauce, I usually try to add in finely chopped or grated veggies like zucchini, carrots, or mushrooms. This recipe makes me want to jump for joy, because it helps me sneak lots of veggies into my unsuspecting children. Two of them turn their noses up to anything that is described as a vegetable that isn’t a carrot or a piece of broccoli.

It means a lot knowing you trust me to help feed your families! I love creating and sharing recipes with fellow foodies and moms who are doing what it takes to keep their families fed. I hope simple and leftover makeover recipes like this one make your life a little easier in the meal planning/prep department!

how to make easy lasagna casserole

  • Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  • In a large pasta pot, boil noodles according to package directions for al dente. (Make sure to salt the water.)
  • While the noodles are cooking, chop up the spinach.

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2

  • When there are two minutes left for the noodles to cook, throw the spinach in. When the timer goes off, drain the pasta and spinach. Set aside.

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2

  • In a quart-sized bowl, mix well the ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, dried parsley and sugar. Set aside. 

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2

  • Next, pour the leftover spaghetti sauce in with the noodles and cooked spinach. Mix well.
  • Pour half of the noodle mixture into the 9×13 pan.

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2

  • Evenly place spoonfuls of half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodle mixture. 
  • Pour the rest of the noodle mixture over the ricotta cheese.
  • Then, add the remaining ricotta mixture by the spoonful evenly over the noodles. 

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2

  • Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
  • Remove foil and sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese.
  • Return to the oven for 10-15 minutes.
  • Serve.

Easy-Lasagna-Casserole-Leftover-Makeover-2Garlic bread, bread sticks, salad or a side of steamed veggies are great options for sides with this Easy Lasagna Casserole, but not necessarily necessary. (Whoa, try and say that ten times fast. Necessarily, necessary, necessarily, necessary, necessarily, necessary…)

This is a recipe you will make over and over. Perfect for a weeknight, a great way to use up leftovers, and  it’s even something you could serve to company with a nice salad and bread-sticks! WINNER!!!

Best Tips for making Easy Lasagna Casserole
  • Use your favorite pasta noodles. I used spiral, but penne, medium shells, or whatever you like/have on hand will work great, too.
  • While the noodles are cooking, chop up the spinach and mix up the ricotta cheese mixture.
  • You don’t have to use leftover sauce. If you don’t have any, this is still a truly great and easy recipe to make your family for dinner. Just brown some ground beef, ground turkey or your favorite Italian sausage, and mix in your favorite jar or can of spaghetti sauce. It will be perfect.

Pinterest image for easy lasagna casserole with one image

Serve with

{Copycat} Macaroni Grill Rosemary BreadEasy-Parmesan-Breadsticks-recipeEasy Parmesan BreadsticksHow to Make Perfect Artisan Bread {Step by Step Instructions and Pictures}

Easy Lasagna Casserole
 
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
40 mins
Total time
1 hour
 
Easy Baked Lasagna, made with simple ingredients. A cross between Baked Ziti and Lasagna, this easy dinner is suprisingly delicious. A healthy recipe the whole family will love.
Author: Maria
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 10
Ingredients
  • 1 16 ounce box of your favorite pasta noodles
  • 3-4 cups of spinach, chopped
  • 3-4 cups of Amazing Spaghetti Sauce or your favorite jar of sauce with some browned meat of your choice
  • 1 16 ounce container of ricotta cheese
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp dried parsley
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella or mild cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large pasta pot, boil noodles according to package directions for al dente. (Make sure to salt the water.)
  3. While pasta is cooking, mix up the ricotta mixture. In a quart-sized bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, dried parsley and sugar. Set aside.
  4. With 2 minutes remaining of boiling time, add the chopped spinach to boiling pasta.
  5. After the remaining 2 minutes of cooking time, drain pasta/spinach and return to the pot you boiled it in. Remove from heat and set it on a part of the stove that is not hot.
  6. Pour in the leftover Amazing Spaghetti Sauce. Stir well. Pour half of noodle mixture into the 9x13 pan.
  7. Evenly place spoonfuls of half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
  8. Pour remaining noodles over the spoonfuls of ricotta you just placed. Use the remaining ricotta mixture to do the same thing on top of the rest of the noodle mixture.
  9. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
  10. After 30 minutes baking, take foil off and sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese. Return to oven for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is nice and bubbly.
  11. Serve.
3.4.3177

More Italian recipes you'll love

Alfredo Pesto Sauce with Chicken and Tomatoes {Five ingredients – 20 Minute Meal}Sausage-and-zucchini-lasagna-roll-upsSausage and Zucchini Lasagna Roll-upspesto-parmesan-pork-chops-5Pesto Parmesan Pork Chops

pinterest image for easy lasagna casserole with two images

Casseroles, Healthy Recipes, Italian, Leftover Makeovers, Most Popular, Simple Dinners, Simple Weeknight Dinner Recipes
amazing spaghetti sauce, baked ziti, casserole, Cheese, Easy Baked Lasagna, Easy Italian Food, easy lasagna, Easy Lasagna Casserole, Italian Food, Lasagna, lasagna casserole, lasagna recipes, Leftover Makeover, pasta casserole, Penne Pasta, ricotta cheese, spaghetti sauce, Spiral Pasta
Leave a Comment

Like it? Share it!

Yum

Subscribe and never miss another recipe!

Sign up above and receive delicious family-friendly recipes directly in your email inbox!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

Welcome friends!

Hi, I'm Maria. A mom of five and a total foodie. My superpower is taking ordinary recipes and making them DELICIOUS. Your family will LOVE these meals! Come cook with me, I promise it will be amazing! Get started here or search my archives below.


When you start your Amazon shopping here, I receive a small percentage of the sale. Thank you for supporting Real Life Dinner.

Don’t Miss These

Back
to Top
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • Apraxia
  • Family
  • About
  • Contact

Copyright © 2021 Real Life Dinner  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Privacy Policy  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs