Mom’s Easy Weeknight Lasagna is something I remember having often as a kid. Mom’s version is different from most other lasagnas because it does not have a layer of ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, or bechemel. Meaning, it’s a very simple three-layer lasagna consisting of noodles, meat sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Mom called it “pizza lasagna.” This recipe was passed around to all the Girl Scout Moms because it was kid friendly, easy enough to make on a weeknight, and economical without the extra cheese. The simple ingredients make it kid friendly and kids can help make it. I remember helping my mom with several of the tasks like grating the cheese, browning the hamburger for the bolognese, and putting the lasagna layers together. Mom always served this with an Italian-style house salad.
How to Make an Easy Weeknight Lasagna
- Brown and break up hamburger in a medium-sized pot
- Discard extra fat
- Add your favorite jar of marinara sauce
- Lightly pulse with immersion blender for even texture (optional)
- Cook nine lasagna noodles according to package al detente directions
- While pasta is cooking grate 1 pound of mozzarella or muenster cheese
- Place a small ladle of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan
- Assemble three layers of noodles, meat sauce, and cheese
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until brown and bubbly
Using a jar sauce makes this recipe convenient for as easy weeknight dinner. However, you can make a Quick Red Wine Tomato Sauce. You don’t need to use an immersion blender if you break up the hamburger evenly. Feel free to skip this step.
Starting with a layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the casserole dish to prevent the lasagna from sticking to the bottom. Then create three layers of noodles, meat, and cheese, reserving a little extra cheese for the final layer on the top.
Place assembled lasagna in a pre-heated 350 degree oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until brown and bubbly.
Let the lasagna rest for 8 minutes before cutting slices. Cut in twelve slices for a potluck or a kid’s birthday party. Alternatively, cut in half on the short side. Then cut in thirds along the lasagna noodle direction for a total of six large adult servings. You could even cut it to get nine medium slices. It just depends who you are serving it to and what other sides you are serving.
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Mom’s Easy Weeknight Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 9 lasagna noodles cooked per package instructions
- 1 pound mozzarella and/or muenster cheese hand grated
- fresh basil for garnish optional
Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a medium-sized pot, breaking up the beef in small even pieces. Pour off extra fat or swab out with paper towel.
- Add your favorite 24 oz or more jar of marinara sauce to the browned beef. (Optional: pulse the meat sauce with immersion blender to create an even texture).
- Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions to al dente.
- While lasagna noodles are cooking, grate cheese.
- Place a small ladle of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan.
- Assemble three layers of noodles, meat sauce, and cheese.
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until brown and bubbly.
- Slice in twelve, nine, or six servings.
Family favorite. I have at times added pepperoni just because it was a great addition. It has
been requested as a special birthday dinner more than once. I have been making this recipe
for years and still love it.