Lazy Mom's Faux Lasagna

Craving the comforting flavors of classic lasagna but short on time? Meet *Lazy Mom's Faux Lasagna*—a quick and easy baked pasta dish that delivers all the cheesy, meaty satisfaction of its traditional counterpart with half the effort. Made with rotini or penne, jarred marinara sauce, and a delicious blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses, this weeknight-friendly recipe uses just one baking dish and a skillet. Perfectly seasoned ground beef or turkey is folded into a hearty pasta-meat sauce mixture, layered with indulgent cheese, and baked to golden, bubbly perfection in just 30 minutes. Ideal for busy families, this hassle-free recipe pairs beautifully with a crisp salad or garlic bread for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal. Keywords: easy baked pasta recipe, quick family dinner, shortcut lasagna.

Nutriscore Rating: 65/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground beef or ground turkey
• 24 ounces Jarred marinara sauce
• 12 ounces Rotini or penne pasta
• 1 cup Ricotta cheese
• 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoon Salt
• 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Olive oil (optional, for greasing)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with olive oil if desired.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until browned and fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.

Step 4

Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the jarred marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to combine the flavors, then remove from heat.

Step 5

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce. Stir until evenly coated.

Step 6

Spread half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the ricotta cheese over the top and spread slightly with a spoon.

Step 7

Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese over the ricotta layer.

Step 8

Top with the remaining pasta and meat sauce mixture, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.

Step 9

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 10

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 11

Let the dish rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your Lazy Mom's Faux Lasagna with a side salad or garlic bread if desired!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1998.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3217.1

Total Fat 188.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 88.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 672.5mg	0%
Sodium 6561.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 185.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 17.8g	0%
Total Sugars 37.1g
Protein 199.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 3292.7mg	0%
Iron 20.3mg	0%
Potassium 3147.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 52.4%

Protein: 24.7%

Carbs: 23.0%