Easy lasagna to make ahead and eat on passage -- heat in oven, microwave or on the stove top!
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 30 minutesminutes
Total Time 50 minutesminutes
Servings 4
Calories 1051kcal
Carbs (g): 96
Ingredients
1poundrotini or other medium-size pasta, uncooked
1poundground beefground turkey or bulk Italian sausage
1teaspoonolive oil
24ouncesspaghetti sauce
8ouncesricotta cheese
¼cupParmesan cheeseshredded or grated
8ouncesshredded mozzarella
Instructions
Preparation
Cook the pasta according to package directions (typically about 7 minutes); drain. Place in a bowl large enough to hold all the ingredients.
While pasta is cooking, crumble the ground beef and sauté it in the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until it is just brown.
Drain any excess fat from meat and add meat to the bowl with pasta.
Pour three-quarters of the spaghetti sauce over the pasta. Add the ricotta, breaking it up as you add it, and the Parmesan and half the mozzarella. Toss together.
If you plan to heat the Mix-Up Lasagna in the oven aboard your boat, select a freezer-proof baking pan with a tightly fitting lid. If you will heat it on the stove or in the microwave, select a freezer-proof plastic food storage container with a locking lid. Either way, the container should be slightly larger than the volume of ingredients; you can also divide it into smaller portions if desired.
Place the pasta and sauce mixture in the selected pan, then pour the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella. Place lid on container.
If you will eat the lasagna in the next two days, you can simply keep it refrigerated until time to heat it. To keep longer or if you will be keeping it in a cooler aboard the boat, it should be frozen.
If possible, thaw the lasagna before heating it. If you are heating in the oven or microwave, it’s fine to start with it frozen but note that it will take approximately twice as long to heat.
How to Heat
Oven: Bake, uncovered, at 350° F. (no need to preheat oven) until the mozzarella is lightly browned, about 30 minutes.
Microwave: Loosen cover but leave in place to avoid spatters and heat on high for about 10 minutes, until mozzarella is melted. Microwaves vary tremendously in their power, particularly when running on an inverter, so time may vary considerably.
Stove Top: Remove lasagna from refrigerator/freezer container and place in heavy saucepan or skillet. Cover and heat over medium-low to medium heat for 10 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until mozzarella is melted and sauce is bubbling. The mozzarella can scorch, particularly if your pan has any hot spots, so it’s best to use lower heat, stir frequently and keep a close eye on the pan.
Serving
Serve in bowls with a spoon.
Notes
Leftovers can be kept in a refrigerator for two days or refrozen for up to three months.Vegetarian Version: Use spaghetti sauce with no meat added and use 8 ounces fresh or canned sliced mushrooms in place of meat (sauté the mushrooms for best flavor).
Nutrition Facts
Mixed-Up Lasagna
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1051Calories from Fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47g72%
Saturated Fat 22g110%
Cholesterol 158mg53%
Sodium 1477mg62%
Potassium 1224mg35%
Carbohydrates 96g32%
Fiber 6g24%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 57g114%
Vitamin A 1420IU28%
Vitamin C 11.9mg14%
Calcium 544mg54%
Iron 5.9mg33%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.