Sweeten Up Your 4th of July With These Patriotic Desserts
June 30, 2023
Posted: September 24, 2021 11:20 am
Lasagna is a delicious Italian dish that can be prepared in many ways. There are several different types of lasagna, including meat lasagna, spinach lasagna, seafood lasagna, and even dessert lasagnas. While some people enjoy cooking their homemade lasagnas, this dish is easy to prepare at home. With these 15 recipes for the best traditional or innovative takes on this Italian classic, you’ll never have trouble finding a new favorite.
This is a traditional Italian lasagna recipe that involves no meat. It’s as simple to prepare as it is delicious.
Ingredients:
– 1 pound of ground beef
– 1 jar of spaghetti sauce
– 1 pound of ricotta cheese
– 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded • 2 eggs • 1/4 cup parsley flakes, chopped • salt, and pepper
Directions: Cook the ground beef in a large pan on medium heat until browned. In a small bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, two eggs, salt, and pepper. In a large casserole dish, the ingredients include beef, spaghetti sauce, ricotta cheese mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
Repeat this process until the dish is entire or all ingredients are used up. Finish with a layer of mozzarella cheese on top of the lasagna—heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 35 minutes. Check if you can freely cut through the lasagna after cooking is completed. If it has already begun to set, you will need to cook for longer or lower the heat of your oven.
What’s better than traditional homemade Italian food? This recipe combines three generations’ worth of secrets for absolute perfection! The tomato sauce in this recipe is so tasty that it’ll be hard, if not impossible, to go back to any other lasagna recipe.
Ingredients:
– 1 pound of ground beef
– 1 29 ounce jar spaghetti sauce • 1 large onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
– 1/4 cup parsley flakes, chopped • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning* • 2 eggs • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated and divided in half *Italian Seasoning is a combination of these herbs: oregano, basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram.
Directions: Brown the ground beef in a large pan on medium heat. While the meat is cooking, finely chop the onion and mince garlic. Add these two to the pan with ground beef and stir until tender. Mix the parsley flakes, half of grated Parmesan cheese, eggs, and Italian Seasoning in a small bowl. Stir this mixture into the pan with spaghetti sauce and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes or until you are ready to assemble your lasagna!
We know that not everyone’s family recipe is famous enough to have been passed down three generations, but this one comes pretty close! It’s surprising how easy it can be to make such an incredible dish at home.
Ingredients: • 1/2 pound ground beef • 1/2 cup onion, chopped • 2 cloves of garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons parsley flakes, chopped
• Salt and pepper
Directions: Put brown beef and onion in a pan on medium-high heat. Add garlic and stir until fragrant, then add parsley flakes, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes while you assemble your lasagna in the next step.
This hearty version of lasagna is made with whole wheat, spinach, and ricotta cheese base. It is topped with a pesto sauce that will make you forget all about the noodles!
Ingredients: • 1 cup Ricotta cheese • 3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated • 2 eggs • 1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
Directions: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine ricotta cheese ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Add 1/4 cup sauce to the bottom of your casserole dish. Layer two lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, breaking them to fit if necessary. Spoon half of the ricotta cheese mixture over this, followed by half of the spinach. Follow up with more sauce, then repeat with another layer of lasagna noodles, remaining ricotta cheese mixture, and remaining spinach. Finish with one final layer of lasagna noodles topped with the last of your sauce. Lastly, sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the whole dish and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top!
This recipe makes lasagna without any pre-made noodles, perfect if you are looking for an easy dish to make!
Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon of butter + 1 teaspoon of oil • 1 medium onion, chopped • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced *you can skip this step entirely if you don’t mind getting more fiber in your diet!
• Salt and pepper
• 1 pound ground beef • ¾ of a cup of dry red wine
• 3 tablespoons of tomato paste • 28 ounces can crushed tomatoes • 3 cups of beef broth
Directions: In a large saucepan, heat butter and oil over medium heat on the stove. Sauté onion, celery, and garlic for ten minutes or until onions become translucent, then stir in your salt and pepper. Add your ground beef into your pan along with your wine, tomato paste, and crushed tomatoes. Stir together thoroughly, then pour in one cup of beef broth at a time, waiting until it is mostly absorbed before adding another cup. Once all three cups have been added, simmer on low heat for 30 minutes or until most liquid is reduced.
The best part about lasagna is that you can always sneak in some extra veggies. This cheesy zucchini lasagna recipe will ensure that your kids eat their veggie serving at dinner.
Ingredients: • 4 cups zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise (about three medium zucchinis) • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped fine
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 15-ounce container ricotta cheese (I recommend whole milk ricotta for this recipe)
• 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
This recipe calls for no meat but is packed full of flavor using only vegetables!
Ingredients: • 2 zucchini, sliced• one eggplant, chopped into cubes
• 6 fresh basil leaves + more for topping if desired
• 3 cups spinach • Salt and pepper to taste
• 28 ounces ricotta cheese
• 24 ounces marinara sauce
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese + an extra ½ cup for topping
• 1½ cup mozzarella cheese
Filling vegetables combined with spicy Italian sausage is what makes this vegetarian lasagna so unique.
Ingredients:
• 20 ounces ricotta cheese *make sure this is gluten-free by checking ingredients or omit if you don’t mind getting more fiber in your diet!
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese + an extra ½ cup for topping
• 2 tablespoons dried basil leaves
• 20 ounces marinara sauce
• 1 large green pepper, chopped
• ½ a red onion, chopped
• 12 ounces spaghetti sauce
• 9 lasagna noodles
An excellent way to incorporate vegetables into your diet is by using them in this delicious vegetarian lasagna.
Ingredients: • ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ pound ground beef *if you are looking for a vegan option, omit it completely!
• 28 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoons Italian Seasoning *be sure this does not contain salt or other spices or herbs if you are on a strict diet like paleo.
• 8 ounces lasagna noodles
• 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
• 1 cup ricotta cheese *check the ingredients or make your homemade recipe if you want this to be paleo-friendly
Gluten-free? This one is made to order. Now everyone can enjoy this classic dish without any concern about whether it contains gluten or not.
Ingredients:
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, chopped coarsely
• 4 cups fresh spinach leaves
• 14 ounces spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce
• 8 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 tablespoons parsley flakes or fresh basil leaves, chopped
This sweet and savory dish will leave all of your guests wanting more.
Ingredients:
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• cup white onion, chopped fine
• 2 cloves garlic, minced • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced thin (removed from stems) • t teaspoon salt
• teaspoon black pepper • 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
• cup ricotta cheese
• teaspoon garlic powder • teaspoon onion powder • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped fine
This lasagna requires minimal cleanup AND only 30 minutes of prep time, which will save on the mess on your play and the amount of time spent cooking.
Ingredients:
1 pound lean ground beef
Two teaspoons olive oil
1/4 white onion, chopped fine
Two cloves garlic, minced
14 ounce can crushed tomatoes in puree
8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced thin • teaspoon salt
• teaspoon black pepper 12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped fine
This lasagna dish is made with fresh ingredients, which makes it nutritious while still tasting great.
Ingredients:
Sauce: 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
One onion, chopped medium
Three cloves garlic, minced
15 ounce canned crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth • teaspoon salt
• teaspoon black pepper 1 pound ground chicken meat
1/2 cup parsley leaves, chopped fine
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained of any excess liquid
16 ounces ricotta cheese three tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional)
Make this dish when you are in the mood for a lasagna recipe that is hearty and delicious but maybe want something different than the usual – it’s also not too spicy so that children can enjoy it as well!
• t olive oil
• 1 pound ground chicken meat (ground breast meat if possible or turkey meat can also work)
One teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Three cloves garlic, minced one medium green bell pepper, chopped fine *optional*
1/4 cup onion, chopped fine *optional*
14 ounce canned diced tomatoes with juice *about 1 1/4 cups*
15 ounce canned tomato sauce *about 1 cup + 1 tablespoon*
One teaspoon chili powder *optional*
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded two tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional)
• A few dashes of hot sauce or to taste
This dish is all about the comfort of soup and the savory flavors you love from lasagna, so why not combine them?
• t olive oil
• 1 pound ground chicken meat (ground breast meat if possible or turkey meat can also work)
One teaspoon salt
1 cup onion, chopped small *optional*
Three cloves garlic, minced one medium red bell pepper, chopped fine *optional*
14 ounce canned diced tomatoes with juice *about 1 1/4 cups*
8-ounce cremini mushrooms, sliced thin (remove from stems) • 16 ounces marinara sauce *about 2 cups*
Eight ditalini pasta OR elbow macaroni *about 8 ounces*
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped fine
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded two tablespoons grated parmesan cheese (optional)
• A few dashes of hot sauce or to taste
In conclusion, lasagna is a dish known by many and loved by some. These recipes are some of the best lasagnas to ever come out of Italian kitchens and will have your mouth watering the moment you read through them.
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