Easy Weeknight Dinner: Lazy Lasagna

I just love a cheap and easy meal my whole family will love. My oldest daughter was two when I first discovered lazy lasagna. It was at a time when money was tight and I really needed some budget friendly meals. The baked ravioli lasagna casserole aka Lazy Lasagna seemed easy and cheap enough to try – so I did. To my surprise it was actually a really delish 30 minute dinner (minus the top browning time). This lazy lasagna is perfect for a busy weeknight or whenever you’re craving lasagna but don’t have a lot of time on your hands.

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What is Lazy Lasagna?

Lazy lasagna is a baked ravioli casserole. There’s layers of creamy stuffed pasta, sauce and cheese. Rather than using lasagna pasta and ricotta cheese you use cheese ravioli. The other difference is that you don’t have to cook the pasta unlike with traditional lasagna. So, it has little shortcuts that just make it a great last minute meal on a busy weeknight.

Is it Really Lasagna?

Some may argue this isn’t lasagna but when you think about it – it kind of is minus the extra work. It has layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce – all the elements of lasagna. C’mon, who doesn’t love a recipe that cuts down on kitchen time – especially on a weeknight? Some may call it cheating but this is working smarter not harder. This is a great last minute dinner you can throw together and have on the table in minutes – it’s a mom win!

How to Make Lazy Lasagna?

When I first made this I only used 3 ingredients and it was good. Sometimes I add a few more ingredients but we’ll talk about that later. For now I’ll keep it simple with the 3 main ingredients:

1-25 oz bag of frozen ravioli

1 – 24 oz jar of pasta sauce (or 2 if you like it saucy)

2 cups mozzarella cheese

1 lb of ground turkey or beef (also optional)

Parmesan Cheese (optional for top layer)

Now that you have all your ingredients – preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a 9×13 pan – start with a thin layer of sauce to keep the ravioli from sticking to the pan. Next, add a single layer of half your frozen ravioli, half the remaining sauce, half the cheese and repeat. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving. enjoy!

Customizations

Now that you know the 3 main ingredients you can definitely customize it with meat or veggetables. I have made this with a hearty garden pasta sauce that has chunks of veggies in it already to save on cost. For some reason, I am drawing a blank on the brand that had the extra chunky veggies but I can definitely say it wasn’t Ragu -lol. I bought it because it was on sell but the veggies are quite small in this sauce. I’ve added spinach on occassion. I have even added ground turkey or used a pasta sauce that had sausage already in it like Newman’s Own Italian Sausage and Peppers. There’s so many ways you can customize this casserole – add carrots, eggplant, artichoke hearts, hot ground sausage or even chicken. These are just a few of the customizations I’ve tried but feel free to play around with your own additions. Lastly, if I have parmesan I sprinkle a little on top because it adds a little saltiness to the dish that I like.

Can You Use Fresh Ravioli?

Of course! You can definitely use fresh ravioli but keep in mind that the baking time will be different. You don’t want to do it as long as you would with frozen ravioli because it will probably be overcooked and soggy.

Can Lazy Lasagna Be Made Ahead of Time?

Yes, baked ravioli lasagna can be made ahead of time. It’s good the day of and even better the next day because the flavors have had time to sink in. You can even freeze it uncooked and when you’re ready just throw in the oven.

Can baked Lazy Lasagna be Frozen?

Baked lazy lasagna can definitely be frozen once baked. You can freeze the leftovers or freeze for a future meal. You’ll just need to take it from the freezer and reheat in the oven or microwave. This meal taste good even as leftovers.

How to Reheat Leftovers

The best way to reheat baked ravioli lasagna is to bake in the oven covered until heated throughout. You can use a stove top as well by placing it in a saucepan and heating it on medium heat, stirring often. If you would like to microwave it do so in a microwave safe bowl for 4 minutes. Be sure to add a little water over the pasta or cover with a damp napkin before heating to keep pasta from drying out.

Side Dishes That Go Well with Lazy Lasagna

Salad – A salad with crotons, cheese, italian seasoning topped with either Italian dressing or Creamy Cesar is a quick and easy side. Since lasagna has lots of cheese and calories pairing it with a guilt-free salad is ideal.

Toasted bread or bread sticks – Toasted italian bread topped with butter and garlic also pairs well.

Roasted Veggies – You can’t go wrong with roasted veggies like broccolini and brussel sprouts. When cooked properly brussel sprouts are pretty dang good. People are always surprised when they hear that my kids love to eat brussel sprouts. But usually from what I’ve observed, people who dislike brussel sprouts never had it roasted.  When done right brussel sprouts have a nice nutty, caramelized, sweet flavor that is so delish!

Lasagna is really filling so there really isn’t much need for a lot of sides but if you have any other suggestions please share in the comments. I don’t mind adding a little variety to our dinners.

Tried This Recipe?

If you plan to try this recipe can you do me a favor and let me know how you liked it or any modifications you did in the comments? It helps me stay motivated and helps other readers decide if they should try this recipe. You can also tag me on IG @withlove_fromcatt I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading your comments. I hope you are having a wonderful week!