Fake Out Lasagna
I love figuring out easier ways to make complicated dishes. Some might call it the lazy way to cook meals. I call them shortcuts to make my life easier.
To me, lasagna is a complicated dish. The layering, the baking, the long list of ingredients, its a very time consuming & elaborate dinner {that’s made with the not appetizing ricotta cheese}. During our busy weeks, I just don’t have time for that. So I came up with an easier way that doesn’t require all the work {or ricotta cheese}. Sort of like the Simple Chicken Tortilla Casserole, you just throw it all in & cook it!
The only thing I would change about this in making it next time would be to add more tomatoes, I think I would probably add a 3rd can of the diced tomatoes but I really like tomatoes.
YIELD: 4 servings
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into 3rds & cooked according to package directions
- 2 squares Land O Lakes Garlic & Herb Saute Express Saute Starters
- 1 cup frozen chopped onion
- 2 cans (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/3 cup tomato sauce
- 4 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup Italian five cheese blend
COOKING DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 2 quart casserole dish.
- In a skillet heated over medium-low heat, melt the Garlic & Herb Saute Express Saute Starters. As soon as the squares melt, add the onions and saute until they are soft.
- Add the diced tomatoes, the tomato sauce & crushed red pepper flakes, bring the mixture to a simmer and allow everything to cook for 3-5 minutes, or until the extra liquid has evaporated. Taste for salt & pepper and season as needed.
- Add the Parmesan cheese and cooked lasagna noodles. Gently stir everything together. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top with the cheese blend. Bake in the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted & bubbly.
RECIPE INSPIRED BY: Juanita’s Cocina
I made this for dinner tonight, and everyone loved it! Another new dish to add to our dinner menus! I added some frozen Italian flavored meatballs that I got at Trader Joe’s. I micro’d them and then quartered them and added them to the sauce portion. The whole dish was really delicious! It was a pretty easy dinner. Added a salad and garlic bread and done! Thanks so much for sharing this one!
I’m so glad you liked it Roberta! And I bet the addition of the TJ meatballs was delicious!! Thanks so much for coming by to let me know what you thought!! 🙂
This looks awesome and much easier. Thanks for linking to Saturday Dishes.
Linda
Thank you Linda!
I love a good short cut!! Sometimes “I ain’t got time for that” (that being a time consuming meal prep!).
Tummy Yum! I wish all shortcuts looked this good.