Mixed Up Lasagna Casserole

Craving lasagna but don’t have the time? This recipe is sure to please and satisfy your lasagna desires! Fairly inexpensive and great for a large gathering or family dinner too!

Mixed Up Lasagna Casserole

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound of your favorite pasta, shells or tubular pasta preferred
1 pound sweet Italian turkey sausage links or bulk
1 medium onion, diced
3 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 – 12 ounce jar favorite pasta sauce
1 – 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 Italian seasoning
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
Optional: 1 egg
3 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Olive oil or spray

Garnish: Additional Parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves

Equipment needed:

Large pot for cooking pasta
Colander
12-inch skillet
Dry measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Sharp paring knife
Chef knife
Cutting board
Bent edged spatula
Large casserole dish or bowl, 3 – 4 quart
Rubber spatula
Large serving spoon

This lasagna recipe is one of my family’s favorites! When my children were growing up it was a meal I could prepare and be guaranteed that they would eat well. My oldest daughter often chose this dish as her birthday meal... only second to London Broil! I have prepared it with or without meat, or substituted diced chicken too... still wonderful! This recipe was also very popular with my Foods 2 students when they were cooking with dairy products. Cheese is always a popular ingredient! Use your favorite pasta, tubular or shell preferred, as it grabs the sauce in all the nooks and crannies. My favorites are either a shell-type or cavatappi pasta. Super easy preparation as its’ name suggests. If you can mix ingredients... you can make this recipe! Grab your pasta and ingredients and let’s make lasagna!

Preheat oven to 350 F.

First step is to start boiling your water and cooking pasta. Meanwhile, heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat for about 5 minutes drizzled with a couple tablespoons of olive oil. While pan is heating, slice center of sausage links and remove from skins. Place meat in pan and chop meat while cooking, using a bent-edged spatula, until well browned. Turkey sausage doesn't have much fat, so the olive oil will help prevent sticking. Prepare the onions and garlic while cooking the sausage and add to the browned meat. Continue cooking together for another 8 -10 minutes or until onions are clear and tender.

Next step is to create your sauce. Add pasta sauce of choice, tomatoes and paste to meat mixture. Sprinkle kosher salt, pepper and Italian seasoning on top and stir well to combine. Allow sauce to come to a low simmer and turn off heat. Meanwhile, check to be sure pasta is cooked and about ready to drain into the colander.

Now it’s time to mix up the lasagna! To prepare the casserole dish, spray or rub the dish or bowl with olive oil. Pour drained pasta into bottom of casserole and cover with all of the warm sauce. Next step is the addition of the cheeses. Divide the ricotta into about 6 mounds on top of the warm sauce. This will help to warm up the cheese and ease the mixing process. At home I often beat one large egg into the ricotta to richen the flavor and increase the creamy texture. Totally up to you! Using a rubber spatula, mix the ricotta cheese, sauce and pasta together well. Sprinkle 2 cups of the grated mozzarella with the parmesan cheese on top of the mixture. Reserving the last cup of mozzarella for the last layer. Mix the cheese until well blended. Cover casserole with remaining cup of cheese.

Bake casserole in preheated 350 F oven for 4 – 45 minutes or until cheese is golden and edges bubbly. Doesn’t it smell divine? Just think that it only took about 30 minutes to prepare too!

Serve lasagna with a side salad and warm garlic bread. Dinner is served...Enjoy!!

** Casserole can be made ahead and refrigerated until baking time. Remove lasagna from refrigerator about an hour prior to baking to allow it to come to room temperature. Makes great leftovers too!