Gone are the days of cooking all day to maker a nice meal. When a friend told me about this Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe, I just HAD to share it with you all!
One of my all time FAVORITE meals has always been Lasagna. In fact, I have joked with people in the past saying "I must be part Italian"!
As a young child, having lasagna for supper was almost like having a special meal. It usually would take A LOT of time, especially if it were just my Mom cooking it.
I would often help her in the kitchen to speed up the process, and sometimes even taking a pinch of cheese when she wasn't looking.
Back in the days there was only a few ways to cook lasagna before technology came about, and most ingredients were hand made and highly expensive.
But as time grew on, technology and new cooking methods came about, we learned more simpler ways to create the same amazing meals in less time and with less money involved.
Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe
This Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake takes about 20 minutes top to prepare. While I was boiling the noddles on one burner, I was grounding the beef on another burner. Once I drained the noodles, and the ground beef was browned, I quickly added the tomato sauce to the beef and set it aside. Next, I combined those delicious cheeses and spices in a separate bowl and set that aside. Then all I had to do was preheat the oven and spray the pan and then layer the noodle and mixture along with the ricotta mixture and top with the remaining provolone cheese. VOILA!
Since this recipe serves 6 guests, it is ideal for supper for a large family or even having girls night at home. I opted to have a girls night at home and invited my closest friends over. Sometimes we all need a quiet night in to truly zone in on one another and catch up without all the noise and restaurant atmosphere. I bought a nice bottle of Merlot and also a bottle of Cabernet which enhanced the flavors of the Lasagna.
My friends both had work the next day, so I also served this dish with rolls and a small Caesar salad. This way they could take some home with them for work the next day! The house smelled soo good and I put on a little classic Italian music to add that extra flare. When my friends arrived, they were happy to see I went the extra mile, to make them feel at home. MUCH better than going to a restaurant! We didn't have to wait for our meals, or for the waiter for another glass of wine. Everything was at arms reach, and no hefty bill after enjoying ourselves.
Nothing ruins a good night like receiving a huge bill! You can always entertain and enjoy the company of friends and family for less and it is guaranteed to create lasting memories. The Lasagna came out AMAZING! The delicious melted cheeses and sauce coated the noodles perfectly! Each bite had equal amounts of ingredients, and everyone seemed so satisfied.
After we ate, I took the plates to the kitchen and quietly prepared their take away containers. I know I LOVE surprises, so I always try to sneak a surprise in when I can. As I thanked them for coming and grabbed a few hugs, I handed them their take away boxes and the smiles of gratitude and love on their faces was absolutely priceless! Don't be afraid to think outside of the box!
This Easy lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe is perfect for anyone, even if you just want to cook it for yourself and have seconds, and lunch the next couple of days! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did, and don't forget to share and print out the recipe card as well to keep for years to come!
How to Make This Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe
- 12 ounces uncooked medium egg noodles (size can vary here)
- 1 pound ground round
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 15 ounces fat-free ricotta cheese (1 medium container)
- 6 ounces provolone cheese, shredded and divided
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Preheat oven to 375°.
Cook noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes, drain. In a small bowl combine ricotta, 1 cup provolone cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper and set aside.
In a large nonstick skillet, cook beef over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in tomato sauce and remove from heat.
Combine noodles and meat mixture in large bowl (or use the pasta pot!). Place 3 cups noodle mixture in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread ricotta mixture over the top of those noodles. Top with the remaining noodle mixture and sprinkle with the ½ cup remaining provolone cheese.
Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts.
Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked medium egg noodles size can vary here
- 1 pound ground round
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 15 ounces fat-free ricotta cheese 1 medium container
- 6 ounces provolone cheese shredded and divided
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- First, preheat your oven to 375°.
- Next, cook the noodles in boiling water for 5 minutes and drain. In a small bowl combine the ricotta, 1 cup provolone cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper and set aside.
- Then, in a large nonstick skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until it has browned, stirring to crumble. Stir in the tomato sauce and remove it from the heat.
- Combine the noodles and meat mixture in a large bowl (or use the pasta pot!). Place 3 cups of the noodle mixture in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Spread the ricotta mixture over the top of those noodles. Finally, top with the remaining noodle mixture and sprinkle with the ½ cup remaining provolone cheese.
- Bake it at 375° for 15 minutes or until cheese melts.
This Easy Lasagna Pasta Bake Recipe serves six people.
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