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This easy lasagna casserole recipe (or baked rotini as it’s also called) is as simple as it is delicious. This recipe combines tender pasta, spices, hearty ground beef, tomato sauce and plenty of cheese. It’s a family favorite dinner at our house. And if you happen to have leftovers, those heat up for an incredible meal the next day.
If you’re looking for more pasta recipe ideas, you should also try baked ziti recipe or baked spaghetti. Don’t forget the dinner rolls on the side!
MORE EASY CASSEROLES:
Cowboy Casserole | Hamburger Casserole
LASAGNA CASSEROLE INGREDIENTS
You will need:
- 1 pound of hamburger
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 24- ounce jar of pasta sauce
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Salt pepper to taste
Ingredient Substitutions:
PASTA: We really like the rotini noodles but certainly shells, bowties, elbows and all manner of pasta shapes work in this recipe. You can even forgo the entire pasta additions and use spaghetti squash for a similar taste.
SAUCE: You can take this mixed up lasagna in a different direction by using an alfredo sauce instead of the more traditional tomato sauce, too. When I do that, I like to use chicken instead of beef. Or make this delicious homemade pasta sauce recipe.
SPICES: Spice-y additions include extra garlic, basil, fennel, oregano, Italian seasoning, dried onion, and parsley.
VEGGIES: In the mom-wants-you-to-eat-more-veggies category, spinach, parsley, olives, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, and bell peppers have been met with different levels of satisfaction at our house. The trick seems to be to add only an amount of veggies that will not overpower the tomato-cheese flavor.
How to Make Lasagna Casserole
STEP ONE: Boil rotini al dente, according to package directions.
STEP TWO: Fry hamburger with diced onion; season with salt and pepper to your taste.
STEP THREE: Once the meat is no longer pink and the onion is soft, stir in the cottage cheese, tomato sauce and cooked pasta.
STEP FOUR: Spoon mixture into greased 10 x 15 casserole dish and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH THIS RECIPE:
I usually add a fresh, salad — try my caesar salad recipe — or simple sauteed vegetables. Pair it with cornbread, beer bread or cheese biscuits! Our cheesy pull apart bread would be great, too.
How to freeze:
Adding to the diversity of this easy lasagna casserole, you can make a double batch and freeze half for future meals. Make sure it is wrapped very tight with aluminum foil and/or a freezer bag.
Just remember it’s best to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge. You can do that the morning you want to use it for dinner, but it’s even better if it thaws for a couple of days. That’s because the center of the lasagna often remains frozen and then it is a little mushy.
PRO TIP: If you do thaw and eat it the same day, add extra baking time and check to be sure you’re not burning the edges, says the voice of experience who rarely remembers to thaw it for two days.
Three sons, work, school, sports, and extracurricular activities keep me hopping. That’s why I’m thankful my boys like pasta dishes. They’re versatile, easy to cook, and economical. This easy lasagna casserole is very popular in our house.
More Recipes You Will Love:
Easy Lasagna Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound of hamburger
- 1 large sweet onion diced
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 24- ounce jar of pasta sauce
- 2 cups rotini pasta
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese shredded
- Salt pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fry hamburger with diced onion; add salt and pepper to taste.
- Boil rotini al dente, according to package directions.
- Add cottage cheese to hamburger/onion mix.
- Pour pasta sauce over mix.
- Stir in cooked pasta.
- Scoop mixture into greased 10 x 15 casserole dish.
- Top with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly.
I made this and I must say it was very easy and everyone in my house loved it. I added a bit more spaghetti sauce and some Parmesan to the mix with before adding to casserole dish.
I made this a few weeks ago using elbow macaroni as that was what I had on hand, and split it into two casserole dishes, as its just my husband and myself. One I baked right away, and the other I froze. The fresh baked on was delish! It was literally lasagna with out all the fuss! I took the other one out a week or so later, let it defrost in the fridge over night and baked it the next day. It was just as good as the fresh one! Holy moses! This is a keeper! I’m making it again tonight, and wanted to give a HUGE thank you!! Soooo good!
Yay! That’s great!
This recipe looks so good! I am looking for a last minute recipe and I have everything on hand except the cottage cheese. Can this be left out or substituted with something else?
Thank you!
I know some people have used ricotta. I have never made it without the cottage cheese, but I think the ricotta would work. Enjoy 🙂
I made this tonite & a couple months ago I used turkey & mixed the cottage cheese with ricotta I put garlic & oil from the garlic in there & a table spoon of brown sugar to cut the acid down this recipe is a hit my family loves it. Thanks