If you are looking for an Easy Lasagna recipe you have just found it! This Easy Homemade Lasagna may not be traditional, but it is still delicious and ready with only 5 minutes of prep! Lasagna made without pre-boiling noodles or browning meat–talk about EASY!
My son adores lasagna and requests it every single year for his birthday.
It reminds me of myself, as I loved my mom’s traditional lasagna and requested that each year for my birthday as well while I was growing up.
However, my son does not want my mom’s recipe for lasagna that takes hours to prepare, he always requests my weeknight lasagna recipe that is BEYOND easy to prepare
Easy Homemade Lasagna
This quick lasagna could NOT be easier to prepare–there is no boiling of noodles, no browning of meat, and only 5 minutes of prep.
Yes, that means lasagna is possible on even the busiest of nights!
Ingredients in Easy Lasagna
- Regular Lasagna Noodles
- You do NOT need no-boil noodles for this recipe.
- Either whole wheat or regular noodles work.
- Spaghetti Sauce
- I love to use my homemade tomato sauce, but your favorite jarred sauce works.
- Just remember the better the flavor of the sauce, the better your lasagna will taste.
- Cottage Cheese
- I know this is NOT traditional, but I personally love the tang and texture of cottage cheese in lasagna.
- Feel free to use ricotta in place of cottage cheese.
- Cheese
- I use a mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan to top this Lasagna recipe.
- I do not add cheese to the lasagna filling, but feel free to add up to 1 cup for a cheesier lasagna.
- Pepperoni
- This is the ODD ball. But I am telling you the zing of the pepperoni adds just the right meaty flavor to this Easy Lasagna.
- Look for nitrate free, organic pepperoni if you can.
- Feel free to omit pepperoni or use 1/2 to 1 pound ground meat in it’s place.
How to Make The World’s Easiest Lasagna
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Brush a 9×13 pan with olive oil.
- Mix together 3 cups spaghetti sauce with 1 cup of water.
- This added water will account for NOT boiling the noodles.
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Mix the cottage cheese together with the herbs, garlic, egg and 1 cup additional mozzarella cheese if desired.
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Spread the bottom of the lasagna pan with a thin layer of tomato sauce.
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Place noodles over the sauce to form the bottom layer.
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Top the noodles with 1/2 the cottage cheese mixture.
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Top with a layer of pepperoni.
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Cover the layer of pepperoni with 1 cup sauce.
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Repeat the process, ending with a final layer of the tomato sauce.
- Top the final layer of sauce with shredded cheese.
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Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes.
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Remove foil and continuing baking for 15 minutes.
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Let sit for 10 minutes or so, before devouring!
Substitutions for Lasagna Recipe
- Don’t have pepperoni?
- Use browned sausage or beef.
- Or omit the meat altogether and keep this a meatless lasagna.
- You love cheese?
- Pile it on the top of the lasagna and add 1 cup to the cottage cheese mixture.
- Is your stomach is a little sensitive to cheese or you are watching your calories?
- Just omit the cheese from the filling (as I do) and top with minimal cheese on top.
- Have fresh herbs?
- Toss them in the cottage cheese filling.
- You don’t have cottage cheese–or you think it is a sin to use cottage cheese in lasagna?
- Use ricotta cheese in place of cottage cheese.
- Even tofu, Greek yogurt, or cream cheese works in this easy lasagna recipe.
I am giving you options. This is the best way to cook to save money and meet your satisfy your family’s palate.
More Lasagna Recipes
- Pierogi Lasagna
- Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
- Baked Ravioli Lasagna
- Healthy Vegetarian Mexican Lasagna
- Easy Pizza Lasagna Roll Ups
- Instant Pot Lasagna
Let’s Make Easy Lasagna
Easy Homemade Lasagna
This Easy Homemade Lasagna may not be traditional, but it is still delicious and ready with only 5 minutes of prep! Lasagna made without pre-boiling noodles or browning meat--talk about EASY!
Ingredients
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 12 whole wheat lasagna noodles uncooked
- 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 3 cups homemade tomato sauce or your favorite store brand
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh Parmesan cheese grated
- 3 oz nitrate free pepperoni
Instructions
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Brush a 9x13 pan with olive oil.
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Mix together tomato sauce with 1 cup water.
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Mix the cottage cheese with fresh and dried spices and garlic with egg.
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Spread a thin layer of the tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan. Lay 4 noodles down. Top with 1/2 the cottage cheese mixture, followed by half the pepperoni. Top with 1 cup sauce. Lay 4 more noodles down and the spread with the remaining cottage cheese mixture and then top with the remaining pepperoni. Top with 1 cup sauce and 4 more noodles. Pour the remaining sauce over the noodles and top with the cheese.
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Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Remove foil and continuing baking for 15 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes or so, before devouring!!
Angela Barnard says
Looks amazing and I will definitely be trying it. I love all the options you gave since we all have different items in our pantry/fridge! Thanks!
kchidsey says
So glad you will be trying this! I think it is so important for people to cook using what they like or have on hand–I would hate for one ingredient to cause someone not to try a recipe.
Kathy says
Do you think this will work with rice pasta for a gluten free version? I’m not sure if all no-boil noodles need the same amount of cooking time and x-tra liquid.
Kristen Chidsey says
For several years, my family was gluten-free and I used rice pasta perfectly. However, I always precooked the pasta first to remove some of the excess starch that tends to come off gluten-free pasta. It may work to not pre-cook pasta, but I have never tried that. I hope you enjoy it.
David @ CookingChat says
Good story & dish! Our boys are close in age, ours turned 9 in August. He requested filet mignon for his birthday. Need to try him on lasagna, would save us some $! Actually he has been known to request pasta for birthdays–fettuccine in particular.
Kristen Chidsey says
Ha! My son loves steak as well–surprised he hasn’t asked for it yet!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious says
you said lasagna and I came running! I totally agree with you that a tiny bit o’ pepperoni adds so much!
Kristen Chidsey says
It is amazing how much flavor it can add!
Valerie says
I like EASY! My family will love this recipe, thanks!
Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa says
Easy? Italian? Oh yes! The best thing ever 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
Totally agree Alyssa!
amanda @ fake ginger says
Lasagna is the perfect birthday meal! This looks delicious!
Kristen Chidsey says
It was what I asked my mom to make every year growing up as well!
Karly says
Aaaand now I’m drooling. Not only is lasagna an all time fave, but lasagna that I don’t have to slave over for hours to make? SIGN. ME. UP. Love this!
Kristen Chidsey says
Ah thanks so much Karly!
Amy-Mommy-Mee Mee says
Has anyone ever tried pastrami instead of pepperoni? Most of us love turkey pepperoni however my husband and son hate the stuff????
I guess I could use ground meat but I love easy freezer meals.
Kristen Chidsey says
I sure think that will WORK wonders! I have also used nitrate free Salami with success. If you give Pastrami a try, I want to know how it turns out!
Nellie Tracy says
An easier and quicker lasagna has my name written all over it! I love this recipe!
Kristen Chidsey says
YAY!!! It makes lasagna possible on busy nights.
Taryn says
This really is the world’s easiest lasagna! Thank you for a great recipe 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
Isn’t it so easy Taryn?! I am so glad you enjoyed it.
Tisha says
Italian food is one of my favorites! I love lasagna, especially with cottage cheese in it!!! This looks amazing!
Brandi says
Lasagna is one of my favorite dishes! Its great to have an easy recipe on hand.
Kristen Chidsey says
is is the EASIEST lasagna ever (but still just as tasty!)Enjoy!