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Loaded Lasagna Recipe Easy Comforting Dinner for Dad’s Feast

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A quick and easy loaded lasagna recipe featuring layers of rich meat sauce, creamy cheese mixture, and gooey mozzarella, perfect for comforting family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (85% lean)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • ½ cup small-curd cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and pepper, a pinch each
  • 9 no-boil lasagna noodles
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Meat Sauce (15-20 minutes): Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened and fragrant—about 3 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and let simmer gently while you prepare the rest. You want it thick but saucy, not watery.
  2. Mix the Cheese Layer (5 minutes): In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, cottage cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined—overmixing can make it rubbery. The texture should be creamy and a little fluffy.
  3. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Dish (5 minutes): Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease your baking dish with a bit of olive oil or non-stick spray to prevent sticking, especially around the edges.
  4. Layer the Lasagna (10 minutes): Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish to keep noodles from sticking. Place three no-boil noodles on top, slightly overlapping. Spoon and spread about one-third of the cheese mixture evenly over noodles. Add one-third of the meat sauce over the cheese, then sprinkle with a handful of shredded mozzarella. Repeat this layering two more times, finishing with a generous layer of mozzarella on top.
  5. Bake Covered (30-35 minutes): Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil (tent it so it doesn’t touch the cheese). Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. This traps steam and ensures the noodles cook through.
  6. Uncover and Brown (10-15 minutes): Remove the foil and bake another 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese on top is golden, bubbly, and slightly crisp around the edges. You’ll know it’s ready when you see the sauce bubbling up around the sides and the cheese pulling away just a bit from the edges.
  7. Rest Before Serving (10 minutes): Let the lasagna sit out of the oven for about 10 minutes to set. This helps it slice cleanly and lets the flavors meld.

Notes

Keep the meat sauce simmering gently to avoid bitterness. Do not overmix the cheese mixture to prevent graininess. Use no-boil noodles for convenience but ensure sauce has enough moisture. Line baking dish with parchment or use non-stick spray for easier cleanup. Let lasagna rest before slicing for best texture.

Nutrition

Keywords: loaded lasagna, easy lasagna, comfort food, family dinner, ground beef lasagna, cheesy lasagna, no-boil noodles, quick lasagna

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/loaded-lasagna-recipe-easy-comforting-dinner-for-dads-feast/