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This Easy Lasagna Casserole has been a staple recipe in our house for as long as I can remember. It is SO versatile and you can just throw in whatever you have on hand. It ALWAYS turns out yummy! (Psst! You might also love these Easy Individual Mini Lasagnas — perfect for on-the-go meals, busy schedules, single people, or hungry teens!)

We love lasagna… but I rarely buy lasagna noodles because there aren’t as many sales or coupons available for lasagna noodles as there are for spiral and rotini noodles.

So, a number of years ago, I re-did our regular lasagna recipe substituting spiral/rotini noodles for lasagna noodles and dubbed it “Lasagna Casserole”. It has since become a staple recipe at our home and it’s one of the first things I consider making when I find marked-down cottage cheese!

Why We Love This Lasagna Casserole Recipe

Not only is this casserole so delicious, but it’s also very frugal (and easy) to make.

Back when we were first married, we just left the meat out of this recipe, since it wasn’t in our budget. We like it better with meat these days, but it’s still hearty as a meatless casserole.

The best part about this easy recipe is that I never make this recipe exactly the same. It really depends on what I have on hand — so feel free to mix up the ingredients based on what you have in your freezer or pantry, or even what’s on sale at your grocery stores.

Lasagna Casserole Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef or sausage (optional)
• 1 onion chopped (optional)
• 8 oz. uncooked noodles (we like spiral or rotini noodles best)
• 12 oz. spaghetti sauce
• 1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
• 2-3 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 cups cottage cheese or ricotta cheese (we prefer cottage cheese and it’s typically much cheaper — especially if you can find it marked down!)
• 1/2 teaspoon parsley (chopped fresh or dried)
• salt/pepper

Lazy Lasagna Substitutions and Additions

I seriously just use whatever pasta, cheese, tomatoes, and pasta sauce I have gotten recently with coupons and sales, so it always turns out a little bit differently. But it’s always good! Here are some suggestions for variations:

• If you’re on a tight budget, simply omit the meat, or substitute cooked lentils or sauteed mushrooms.
• You can use whatever noodles you have on hand.
• Feel free to use more sauce if that’s your preference — even using extra sauce in place of the tomatoes.
• Sneak some extra steamed and chopped veggies into the pasta sauce for extra nutrition.
• You can also mix up the cheese, trying new varieties or mixing a few types. Sometimes I love to add parmesan to this recipe. Other times, we’ve even used cheddar! It might sound weird, but it gives it a bit of a different flair than traditional lasagna — and we think it’s yummy that way, too. {You may or may not agree. We can have weird and quirky tastes sometimes!}

How to make Lasagna Casserole

1. Brown ground beef and onion until cooked.

2. While the meat is cooking, boil the noodles according to the package directions.

3. Mix spaghetti sauce with diced tomatoes and browned ground beef.

4. Set 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese aside to sprinkle on the top.

5. Combine the rest of the mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, beaten eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper.

6. In a 7″ x 11″ pan, layer a third of the meat sauce, then the noodles, then the cheese mixture.

7. Repeat two more times.

8. Sprinkle with cheese.

9. Bake at 350º for 30 to 45 minutes (until bubbly).

10. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

How to serve this Lazy Lasagna Recipe

This casserole tastes great with a simple side salad, fruit, and garlic toast. It also pairs well with most vegetables and any type of bread/rolls you have in the house.

How to store Easy Lasagna Casserole

Let the casserole come to room temperature, cover, and refrigerate any leftovers.

You can also put single-servings into smaller storage containers and freeze for easy lunches.

Lazy Lasagna FAQs