Note from Crystal: I’m so excited to have my youngest sister, Olivia, sharing this freezer-friendly recipe for mini lasagnas with us today!
Looking for more freezer recipes? Check out these 20 quick & easy make-ahead freezer dinners for busy moms, including mini chicken pot pies, bean & cheese burritos, spaghizza, southwest chicken casserole, and SO many more!
These mini lasagnas would be fantastic for those of you who need single-serving recipes or great ideas for on-the-go lunches! This is also a great freezer lasagna recipe to prep ahead of time and have on hand in the freezer for those chaotic weekday nights!
Looking for an easy freezer dinner idea?
These individually-sized mini lasagnas are the perfect go-to lunch or dinner! They work amazingly well for single people, busy schedules, and hungry boys. 🙂
Take them to work (you might make all your co-workers jealous!), send them in your older kids’ lunches, or even bring them as a frozen meal to someone else!
Freezer-Friendly Individual Mini Lasagnas
- 3 pounds ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons minced dried onion (optional)
- 1 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
- 3 teaspoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 72 ounces spaghetti sauce (3 24-ounce jars)
- 24 ounces cottage cheese (about 2 3/4 cups)
- 30 ounces ricotta cheese (about 3 1/4 cups)
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 18 ounces oven-ready lasagna noodles, broken in half
- 2 pounds mozzarella cheese (1 pound thinly sliced, the other pound shredded)
- Mini Foil Pans
Brown ground beef with minced onions in a large pan. When meat is cooked, drain off fat. Stir in spaghetti sauce, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, basil, 2 teaspoons chopped parsley, and Italian seasoning.
In another bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon parsley, and eggs.
Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the mini foil pans. Layer uncooked noodles, sliced cheese, cottage cheese mixture, and meat mixture as desired, ending with meat mixture. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Bake uncovered lasagnas at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until bubbly and cheese is somewhat crispy. Let cool, cover pans securely with foil, and freeze.
To prepare, bake uncovered, frozen lasagnas at 350 degrees for 1 hour. You can also prepare the lasagnas in the microwave. Pop them out of the foil pans, place on a microwave-safe dish, and microwave on high for 8-10 minutes. (You may need to thaw them slightly in order to be able to remove them from the pans.)
NOTE: The lasagna is NOT fully cooked after 35 minutes, so if you are planning to eat immediately, you need to cook it for a longer time (and probably cover with foil after 30 minutes to prevent the cheese from burning).
I’ve layered lasagnas all different ways with good results. Basically you just want to make sure each layer of noodles has a even amount of the meat or cheese mixture covering it. For easier handling and to prevent oven spills, place lasagna pans on cookie sheets.
Yields: 13-15 mini lasagnas
Looking for other freezer recipes? Try these:
- 20 Quick & Easy Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Dinners for Busy Moms
- 7 Make-Ahead Freezer-Friendly Pancake Recipes (Plus Tips & Tricks!)
- 9 Freezer-Friendly Breakfast Recipes to Simplify Your Mornings
- My Top 7 Favorite Freezer-Friendly Muffin Recipes (Plus Grain-Free Options!)
- 8 Delicious & Healthy Freezer-Friendly Snack Ideas
- 7 Freezer-Friendly Dessert Recipes
- 13 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes {Freezer & Budget Friendly!}
Thanks for posting this recipe, they look yummy! How many mini loaves does it make?
It makes 13-15.
Could you use ground Italian turkey sausage instead for this recipe?
I’m sure you could!! It probably be delicious! Let us know if you try it how it turns out. -Jordan, MSM Team
Made these and my guy loves them. Thank you.
I love this idea! How many loaf pans does it make? The pictures look like the recipe will make 10 mini ones, but I thought I would check to make sure!
In one photo there are 10 but the ones that are baked shows 9 in the photo so I’m a little confused. Either way they look yummy.
I just added that to the recipe! It makes 13-15 loaf pans.
When do you use the eggs. It’s not in the instructions.
Hi Michelle! The eggs go in the cottage cheese mixture. Hope that helps! -Meg, MSM Team
Those are so cute! I’m looking to do some freezer cooking in the next couple months and lasagna is the perfect comfort meal for wintertime. =)
Definitely!! -Meg, MSM Team
Hi, I have a question. How long can u freeze them for? To stay fresh and all, would you recommend?
Thanks.
Hi, Felicia! That’s a great question! I’m guessing they would stay fresh for up to 6 months. However, they’ve always been quickly devoured at our house, so I’m not totally sure about that! 😉 -Olivia, MSM Team
I’ve made these for years and they are great for nights when the kids have sports or meetings. I have kept mine in the freezer for 6 months or more. The key is to wrapping them with a few layers of plastic wrap to seal them and then really well with foil. I’ve started freezing mine and when they are completely frozen, taking them out of the pans, and then vacuum sealing them. They are still good over a year later when vacuum sealed.
Thanks so much for sharing, Pattie! Those are wonderful tips for freezing lasagnas! -Olivia, MSM Team
Can this be scaled down by half? I’m due with our first child in November and trying to prep some lunches and dinners and don’t have the freezer space for 13-15 of them.
Can they be frozen before baking? I plan on cooking noodles slightly Al dente to reduce baking time.
If you partially freeze them then take them out and wrap them in saran wrap and put them in a ziploc, they will last longer than 6 months.
Love it!! I do this same thing with meatloaf – these are perfect for a couple …forces portion control because I might eat the whole pan of lasagna if I make it ? If you split it in half it’s just the right size!
What a great idea! -Meg, MSM Team
I do not like cottage cheese in anything….can I substitute ricotta in place of the amount of cottage cheese? So I still need the egg?
I love this idea, especially for when I’m visiting a single person: I can take a ready-to-eat meal and a few of these for their freezer for later. Quick question: What size are the pans? I couldn’t tell from the photos. Thanks.
Hello, Sandra! I normally use pans that are around 5 X 3 inches! -Olivia, MSM Team
What a great recipe for my 14 year old daughter to do. She loves lasagna I have been purchasing them at Aldi for her however there is way to much for her to consume in one dish. Guess what she’s making this weekend? She own lasagna for the freeze. I love to gift food to my kids
Yay! How fun! -Meg, MSM Team
This is awesome. I love this recipe. I recently moved into an apartment with my son and I am the only one who likes lasagna so this is perfect for me. Plus I struggle with lunches for me at work.
Perfect!! -Meg, MSM Team
Can they be microwaved if put in the right container?
Hi, Nancy! Yes, you can microwave the lasagnas if you put them in a microwave-safe container! You can also pop the lasagna out of the foil pan and place it on a microwave-safe dish. (It’s easiest to pop out of the foil pan if the lasagna is slightly thawed.) -Olivia, MSM Team
This is amazing! No matter how many you are cooking for, 2 or 4 or 10, you are have the perfect amount! Thanks for sharing. This is definitely one I will be bookmarking.
Definitely! 🙂 Enjoy it! -Meg, MSM Team
Great recipe! Thanks, Olivia.
You’re welcome, Laura! -Olivia, MSM Team
These will be perfect to send to college with my son!
Could I use all ricotta cheese in this recipe? The Italian in me cringes at cottage cheese anywhere near my lasagna! Thanks! 🙂
Hi, Lisa! Absolutely! The cottage cheese and ricotta cheese are interchangeable. 🙂 -Olivia, MSM Team
Lisa, did you try with just ricotta cheese? Cottage cheese makes me cringe too lol.
Yes, love this idea, but please check the sodium content of your spaghetti sauce and cheeses before adding any more salt! Most Americans consume way too much – just omit it from the recipe.
Thanks so much for the excellent suggestion! -Olivia, MSM Team
How long would you recommend baking them for if you want to eat them right away?
Hello, Kim! I honestly have not tried it, but I’m guessing about 15 more minutes or until the lasagna noodles are cooked. -Olivia, MSM Team
I have a lot of pans this size that are reusable. Would they freeze just as well as in the aluminum?
Hi, Angela! I have used pans that are reusable with good results! However, they are not as easy to pop out of the pans if you are wanting to microwave them. -Olivia, MSM Team
Line the reusable pan with parchment paper first.
You can line reusable pans with parchment paper before filling and baking and they will pop out.
Love this idea! I always have so much left over when I make lasagna that we’re eating on it for days.
If taking from the freezer, what are the reheat instructions? Should they be thawed first? LOVE this idea as I am cooking for one.
Hi, Julie! You can take stick them in the oven frozen (350 degrees for 1 hour, uncovered) or you can let them thaw a bit and pop them out of the foil pan onto a microwave-safe dish to microwave (somewhere around 8-10 minutes on high). -Olivia, MSM Team
What is the cooking time for oven and microwave. Also, on what setting for oven?
Hello, Peggy! After the lasagnas have been cooked (35 minutes at 350 degrees) and frozen, you can reheat them by sticking them straight from the freezer into the oven (350 degrees for 1 hour, uncovered). You can also thaw them slightly and pop them out of the pan onto a microwave-safe dish to microwave (somewhere around 8-10 minutes on high). -Olivia, MSM Team
So to get this right, you cook them BEFORE you freeze them or can they be prepared according to recipe and immediately frozen? I don’t want to mess this great recipe up. Thanks for posting!
Could I cook the noodles before hand or do they need to go in the foil already hard?
Hello, Aubrey! Yes, you can cook your noodles beforehand if you prefer! However, I like the texture of the lasagna more when they are not cooked. -Olivia, MSM Team
Looks and sounds amazing! Where did you find your tin foil pans?
Hi, Katelyn! I purchased my pans at Dillons, but I also think you can buy them at a number of other stores. Below is a link to some at Walmart. Let me know if you have any more questions! -Olivia, MSM Team https://www.walmart.com/ip/Handi-Foil-Eco-Foil-Mini-Loaf-Pans-with-Lids-5-Pack/17126884
They now have noodles you don’t need to cook. Find them by all the noodles. Just look for them on the package.
Can you also prepare these without baking first and freeze them? I’m not sure if it would save any time but thought about preparing them and freezing first
I have the same question. Why are you baking first? When I have done my large family size lasagna, I use oven ready noodles and freeze unbaked. I then bake from freezer all at once. I’m looking to do these for my daughter at college. I’m wanting your insight on why you bake first.
Hi Missy, That’s a great question. I have the reverse question. Why wouldn’t you make the whole pan and bake first? I make the whole pan of lasagna, bake it, cut it in portions and then freeze it. I have tried every way possible and this one works best for me. It never ends up watery or overdone, and I can use the number of portions I want at anytime. Happy Cooking!
Good Morning, Tracy! That is a great question! I actually have never tried to freeze this lasagna without baking it first, so I’m not sure. If you try it, you’ll have to let me know how it turns out for you! 🙂 -Olivia, MSM Team
I also have the same question as Tracy. I am wondering what your reasoning is for cooking it first. When I have made large family size lasagnas, I use oven ready noodles and freeze unbaked. I then pull from the freezer and bake all at once. I’m looking to make these for my college daughter and wanted your insight on why you bake first. Thank you!
Hi, Missy! Honestly, I’ve never stopped to think about it! I guess I cooked them because I thought they would be easier to reheat, especially when using the microwave. I was also concerned the noodles wouldn’t be cooked all the way. But it sounds like it has worked well for you, so I’m going to have to try it out sometime! -Olivia, MSM Team
Was wondering if you could do a white lasagna wiith ground chicken or turkey using Alfredo sauce?
Hello, Connie! I have not tried that, but I’m sure it would work! It sounds really yummy! 🙂 -Olivia, MSM Team
Hi Olivia, I feel that if cooked a half hour and then baked again for another hour won’t the cheese get too burnt? I would like to make these for my college daughter they seem perfect but i don’t want to overlook then
Hi, Bonnie! That’s an excellent question! Our oven tends to cook slower than most, and we also like our lasagnas to be crispy on top. Since all ovens and tastes are different, you’ll probably want to keep an eye on your lasagna when you reheat it. You can always cover it with foil or cook it for less time! 🙂 Let me know if you have any more questions! -Olivia, MSM Team
P.S. When we reheat the lasagnas, we place them in the oven directly from the freezer. We don’t start heating the oven until after we’ve put them in the oven. So, if you preheat your oven first, I’m guessing they wouldn’t take a whole hour to reheat. I should’ve clarified that in the recipe! -Olivia, MSM Team
So excited to try this! This would be prefect for us at this season of life.
Not sure if someone asked this, didnt read all of the comments but…how can you microwave these if youre on the go?
Hi, Evelyn! That’s a great question! Probably the easiest way to do that would be to use microwave-safe lasagna pans. Otherwise, you can remove a lasagna from the foil pan and place it in another dish to be microwaved later. (They are easiest to remove if they are slightly thawed.) -Olivia, MSM Team
I just tossed these in the oven and am pretty excited! I used 2 pounds of ground beef and 1 pound of ground sausage. My “oven ready” noodles are different from yours. They’re wider, and not wavy on the edges. I’m sure I shouldn’t brand drop, so I won’t. I had to break them up and make it work that way. I thought about using regular noodles but don’t like to mess with a recipe the first time and have a disaster on my hands! Hoping that these turn out to be great with my odd noodles! I only ended up with 2 layers of everything due to the depth of the pans. Just wanted to add that for anyone wondering… I didn’t see a number of layers mentioned anywhere.
I’m so looking forward to making this recipe over the weekend! Sometimes it’s difficult to find Ricotta cheese so I may have to use all cottage cheese 🙁 I’ve been looking for a great lasagna recipe…..could this be the one ?! Thanks for sharing it with us!!
I hope it’s a success for you! 🙂 -Meg, MSM Team
We, in Italy, don’t use ricotta in the lasagna and nor cottage cheese, only mozzarella and parmesan. ?
Lia, what is your recipe?
I do not like cottage cheese in my lasagna. Can I substitute something else or just use more ricotta?
Hi, Heather! Yes! You can substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese! I hope you enjoy it! -Olivia, MSM Team
So obvious a splendid idea, so why oh why didn’t I come up with this??? Lol well guess who is going to make this delish dish this weekend and yes, I will be freezing them.
This is obviously one of the very best ideas ever!!!! It saves money and time and portion co troll and is stress free. Thank you so much.
I have tried storing lasagna in tin pans in the freezer. You can’t leave them in the freezer for too long or the acid in the tomatoes eats thru the aluminium.
How many layers do you make in each pan to get 13 to 15 pans of lasagna?
Hi There! I only have regular lasagna noodles. Is there a way to us them instead of using over ready ones?
Thank you!
For low-carb, has anyone tried with zucchini or something other than lasagna? If so, what are your thoughts on freezing it?
This looks/sounds soooo delicious!!!!
This recipe looks so much like the one I usually use from memory so Now I have it pre-typed for me. Except I never use ricotta cheese. Tummy can’t handle it so I use dry curd cottage cheese.
Interested about NOT baking before freezing answer. Maybe parboil the noodles and assemble and freeze. May try just one not baked first.
How do these taste after freezing and reheating? Are the noodles soft and mushy like frozen boxed lasagnas, or more like fresh baked?
How long would you cook if cooking immediately?
Adding cut up avocado and fresh squeezed lemon (best Meyer lemon in season)on this and even spaghetti takes it to the next level.
So am I understanding after you prepare them cook them 30 minutes let cool and freeze then when you want to serve them cook another 60 minutes
Yes! That’s exactly how you prepare them. Good Luck! -Jordan, MSM Team
Sorry if this is a dumb question but for each lasagna is there only 1 layer? you don’t repeat it? Only 1 “noodle” per pan?
No, I can see how the pictures make that confusing. The instructions for layering are, “Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the mini foil pans. Layer uncooked noodles, sliced cheese, cottage cheese mixture, and meat mixture as desired, ending with meat mixture. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.” Hope that helps! -Jordan, MSM Team
How many noodle layers for each?
The instructions for layering are, “Spread a layer of meat sauce in the bottom of the mini foil pans. Layer uncooked noodles, sliced cheese, cottage cheese mixture, and meat mixture as desired, ending with meat mixture. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese.” So you can choose how many noodle layers you want. Hope that helps! -Jordan, MSM Team
These look like the perfect comfort food! Thank you, I have pinned and will make these in Autumn, I think they will go down a treat in our house
So I made the lasagnas and skimmed the end, thinking that was the instructions to fix them for a dinner. Later I realized that I was meant to partially bake them before freezing. I’ve frozen them raw. Is there any way to save them?
Yes, you can just thaw and fully bake them.