Easy 5-Ingredient Deconstructed Lasagna Recipe
Broken, tender lasagna noodles are layered in bolognese sauce, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella for an easy, 5 ingredient dinner Deconstructed Lasagna is ready in 20 minutes!
Back at it with another easy and delicious recipe—this time, we’re talking about a lazy lasagna that might just become your new favorite pasta dish. It’s all the cozy, cheesy comfort of your favorite lasagna recipe, but with way less effort (and way fewer dishes).
This deconstructed lazy lasagna is my go-to recipe when I want an easy recipe that still feels like the ultimate comfort food meal. It’s packed with flavor, comes together fast, and makes enough to feed the whole family. Honestly, it’s the perfect dish to whip up when you want big comfort without the big fuss. Let’s get into it!
Related: 5 Ingredient Creamy Sausage, Pea, and Caramelized Onion Pasta
The inspiration behind the recipe!
As a busy working mom, I’m always on the lookout for easy and quick dinner options that still check the boxes for healthy and satisfying. One day, I was seriously craving a classic lasagna, but let’s be real—I didn’t have the time (or energy) to make it from scratch. So, I decided to get a little creative and try a deconstructed version.
And let me tell you, it was a total game-changer! It had all the comforting flavors and textures of a traditional lasagna, but it was ready in a fraction of the time. Since then, it’s become a staple in my house, and I can’t wait to share it with you.
Why you’ll love my Deconstructed Lasagna Recipe:
Easy and Quick
As the name suggests, this recipe is effortless and takes only a fraction of the time to make compared to a traditional lasagna. Breaking the noodles into smaller pieces helps them cook faster, and using a store-bought sauce eliminates the need to make a homemade one from scratch.
Versatile
You can customize this recipe to your liking by using different types of meat, such as lean ground beef or sweet Italian sausage. You can also add in some vegetables like chopped bell peppers or onions to make it even more nutritious. The possibilities are endless!
Cheesy Goodness
Let’s be real, the best part of any lasagna is the cheese. And this lazy lasagna is no exception. The combination of creamy ricotta and melty mozzarella cheese is simply irresistible. Plus, you can always add more cheese on top for that extra cheesy goodness.
Perfect for Any Season
This recipe is perfect for any time of the year. In the colder months, it’s the ultimate comfort food that will warm you up from the inside out. And in the middle of summer, when you don’t want to turn on the oven, this one-pot lasagna is a great alternative to satisfy your cravings.
Ingredients you’ll need for Deconstructed Lasagna:
Let’s start with the ingredients you will need:
- 1 box whole wheat lasagna noodles (not oven ready)
- 1 lb. ground turkey meat (can sub ground chicken or beef)
- 1 jar your favorite marinara sauce (I love Rao’s brand)
- 1 16-oz. container whole milk ricotta cheese (can sub part skim, but I think it’s watery)
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Optional toppings: parmesan cheese, chopped basil, red pepper flakes
How to make Deconstructed Lasagna
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- Break the uncooked lasagna noodles into 4-6 pieces each. In a large pot of water, add a teaspoon of salt, and then add the broken noodles. Cook according to package directions, which is usually 7-9 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a deep-sided skillet or dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and season with salt and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat into small pieces and cook until it is no longer pink, which takes about 5 minutes. If you are using beef, drain the fat.
- Once the meat is cooked, add the jar of marinara sauce and stir to combine.
- Strain the cooked lasagna noodles from the water and add them right into the sauce. Toss everything together carefully.
- Add dollops of ricotta cheese on top of the pasta mixture, pushing some of them deeper into the pile. Then, sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Place the skillet or dutch oven in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Let the lasagna cool slightly before serving. You can also add some optional toppings like parmesan cheese, chopped basil, fresh parsley, or red pepper flakes to enhance the flavors even more.
Want more pasta? Try these from The Savvy Spoon!
- 5 Ingredient Tortellini Bake Recipe (Easy + Cheesy!)
- Easy Red Pepper Pasta with Pancetta Recipe
- One Pot Bolognese Pasta Recipe
- Marry Me Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Spicy Sundried Tomato Pesto Pasta
Tips for Success
Use Regular Lasagna Noodles
It’s essential to use regular lasagna noodles and not oven-ready ones for this recipe. The oven-ready noodles tend to absorb more liquid, and in this recipe, we want the noodles to cook in the sauce and absorb all the flavors.
Cook the Noodles Al Dente
When boiling the noodles, make sure to cook them al dente, which means they should be slightly firm to the bite. This ensures that they don’t get too mushy when they cook in the sauce in the oven.
Use Good Quality Ingredients
Since this recipe uses a few simple ingredients, it’s crucial to use high-quality ones for the best flavor. I highly recommend using Rao’s marinara sauce and whole milk ricotta cheese for the creamiest and most delicious result.
I hope you give this easy one-pot deconstructed lazy lasagna recipe a try and love it as much as my family does. It’s an easy recipe and the perfect dish for a busy weeknight or a lazy weekend when you want a delicious and comforting pasta dish without all the hassle. It might just become your new favorite lasagna recipe. Don’t forget to save this recipe card for future use and share it with your family and friends. Happy cooking!
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Easy 5 Ingredient Deconstructed Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 box whole wheat lasagna noodles *not oven ready*
- 1 lb. ground turkey meat can sub ground chicken or beef
- 1 jar your favorite marinara sauce I love Rao's brand
- 1 16-oz. container whole milk ricotta cheese can sub part skim but I think it's watery
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
optional toppings
- parmesan cheese, chopped basil, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Break uncooked lasagna into 4-6 pieces each. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a tsp. of salt, then add broken noodles. Cook according to package, about 7-9 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a deep sided skillet or dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil then add ground turkey, seasoning with salt and pepper. Break up into small pieces with wooden spoon and cook until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain fat if using beef.
- Once meat has cooked, add jar of marinara sauce and stir to combine.
- Strain cooked lasagna noodles from water and add right into sauce. Toss carefully.
- Add in dollops of ricotta cheese, pushing some deeper into noodle pile. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake for 10 minutes or until melted and golden!
- Let cool slightly before serving!
Skip the jarred sauce, make a quick sauce instead.
The total time to make quick sauce is 15 minutes, it’ll be ready before the pasta is cooked. This quick sauce is light and bright, and so good, you’ll never buy jarred sauce again.
2 cloves garlic, sliced.
2 TBLS olive oil.
1 28oz can good quality Italian plum tomatoes.
Heat a pan over medium heat, and when hot add olive oil and garlic. Cook the garlic for 60 seconds. Add the can of tomatoes with their juice. Mash with a potato masher to break up the tomatoes. Let bubble vigorously for 10-12 minutes, then add salt and pepper to taste and serve.
I’m confused! Your recipe has the noodles being cooked in a separate pot from the meat sauce. I’m still looking forward to making this recipe.
Hi Amy! Sorry for the confusion. You will quickly boil the broken noodles to al dente, typically for 7 or so minutes, before adding to the skillet with your meat, sauce and cheeses. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Really really good basic recipe! I added some Italian seasoning and a chopped onion to it and I also used bow tie noodles instead of lasagna noodles. I subbed cottage cheese instead of ricotta and it was really good.