Quick & Easy Lasagna

Quick & Easy Lasagna

I love how Quick & Easy Lasagna can be made. No longer does it take hours to prepare. Our favorite lasagna can be ready to eat in thirty minutes or less!

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef
1 box bow tie pasta
2 jars of your favorite Pasta Sauce
1 container cottage or ricotta cheese
1 bag mozzarella shredded cheese.

Directions:

1. Start with browning a pound of lean ground beef in a large skillet or grab a bag of make-ahead beef from the freezer (this is such a time saver for me).
2. While the ground beef is browning, start a large pot of water to boil. When the water comes to a boil, add a couple of tablespoons of butter or oil and liberally salt the water (Remember this is the only time you can season your pasta is while cooking). Stir in your small pasta (we like using bow ties because they have little ridges that catch the sauce for each bite). Cook according to package, then drain.
3. Once the ground beef has browned (drain if necessary) add in one jar of your pasta sauce, stirring to combine. Depending on how saucy your crew likes their pasta, add the second jar of pasta sauce. My crew likes a little pasta with their sauce so I always use at least two jars of pasta sauce.
4. As soon as the pasta is ready and drained, you can start assembling the casserole. Use a large bowl or lasagna pan for this as you will have a TON of casserole!
5. Place about a third of your pasta on the bottom of the bowl or pan
6. Spoon about a third of your pasta and meat sauce over the pasta
7. Next layer a container of cottage or ricotta cheese (12-15 ounces) over the pasta and meat sauce
8. Sprinkle one cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the cottage or ricotta cheese
9. Repeat steps 5-8 until you have used all the pasta and pasta and meat sauce

At this point the casserole is ready to eat. No need to bake it unless you want to brown the cheese on the  top. The heat from the sauce and pasta will melt the cheeses without having to bake.

Another way to prepare this is to use individual sized containers. Set up the layers in a single serve, freezer safe container and just heat when ready to eat. Makes those grab and go meals so easy.

 

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