Baked Lasagna Casserole
Written by Katie of Good Life Eats
As Aimée mentioned in her post Vegetables In Season: February, I’m pretty much over the whole winter vegetable offerings. I tend to trudge through this time of year through the use of casseroles and soups at our dinner table. This Baked Lasagna Casserole is a current favorite during a time when none of the seasonal offerings really sound good.
I love Italian food. Lasagna has always been a favorite, but sometimes it is fun to take the flavors you love from one recipe and put them together in a different way. Instead of a layered lasagna, here you have a hot, bubbly baked casserole with penne.
Mixed in with the meat sauce are extra vegetables which provide color, nutrients, and texture. Kids will love how the casseroles are served in individual dishes. And because they’re baked in smaller proportions, the recipe cooks faster too. No individual casserole dishes? Just bake it in a large dish. I’ve included instructions for that too.
Photos by Katie of Good Life Eats
These casseroles are great served with a big green salad with a Garlic Herb Vinaigrette or roasted broccoli or asparagus drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a loaf of hot bread, such as this Rustic Rosemary Bread.
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 onion diced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 6 ounces mushrooms sliced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 bell pepper yellow, red or orange - diced
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1 teaspoon sugar
For the Ricotta Mixture
- 2 cups ricotta
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 10 ounces fresh spinach chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Other Ingredients
- 1 box cooked penne pasta 1 lb box
- 6 ounces Fresh Mozzarella grated
Instructions
- Add 2 teaspoons olive oil to a skillet over medium high heat. Saute the onion until golden and tender, about 5 minutes. Add the sliced mushrooms and saute until they're soft and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute. Remove the onion mixture and set aside.
- Add the ground turkey to the skillet, season with the salt, pepper, basil and oregano. Stir until well mixed and cook until crumbled and cooked through. Return the onion mixture to the pan and stir until evenly distributed.
- Add the bell pepper and wine, scrapping up any browned bites in the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, crushed red pepper, and sugar. Heat to a boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 - 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the ricotta, egg and parmesan to a bowl and whisk until combined and smooth. Stir in the spinach and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- In a casserole dish layer the following: 1/3 of the meat sauce, 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, and 1/2 of the pasta, 1/3 of the meat sauce, 1/2 of the mozzarella, 1/2 of the ricotta, 1/2 of the pasta, 1/3 of the meat sauce.
- Cover the casserole dish with foil. Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven 30 minutes. Then, sprinkle the top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Alternatively, you can assemble the casserole in individual serving sized ramekins. Bake for 20 minutes covered, then add the cheese and bake until the cheese is melted and the dish is hot and bubbly.
Notes
Nutrition
More Comforting Casseroles
- Baked Mac n Cheese with Gruyere and Butternut Squash | GoodLife Eats
- Chicken Tetrazzini | GoodLife Eats
- Lentil Shepherd’s Pie | Simple Bites
- Southwest Black Bean Casserole | Pinch of Yum
- Stacked Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas | Perry’s Plate
What are your family’s favorite dinners this time of year?
This is a fiiine idea! Yum!
I love the presentation and the portion control. Looks delicious too.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing, so cheesy and fattening, so the portion control is a GREAT idea! And regardless, this is a great make ahead dish, and I am sure it freezes well.
This is genius! I love a good casserole…make it Italian and I’m 100% in! 😀
This looks fabulous and feels much easier to prepare than traditional lasagna. Anything with spinach and ground turkey general works for me!
Thanks for the recipe! I made lasagna twice, and even though it was so good, I couldn’t make it again because of all the time it took. Tonight, we’re having smoked salmon fettuccine alfredo.
This is a great idea! The niece and nephew will love it.
Oh I just love this recipe! I love everything about it, the photos, the melted cheese, the cup, all of it! And such a great idea, bonus is cooking in season. The flavors and respect for the food is great, thank you!
Great ideas! Thanks for including my recipe 🙂
I love this recipe…I hope I can try lasagna too…
I love that you added spinach to the ricotta. I can’t wait to try it!
Hi I saw an earlier post of ur pantry and how u organize it..you have these great teal/blue containers that were huge…can u tell me where did u get it from?? I LOVE them…u said that it was tupperware but I wasnt sure if those were also or jus the ones on the top shelf….
thanks
felicia
[email protected]
Such a gorgeous lasagna!! Beautiful photos, would love to try this soon!
Oh my, I need to make this soon. I can’t wait until or farmers market opens up soon 😀
This lasagna recipe sounds absolutely delicious and hearty! The combination of ground turkey, mushrooms, and bell peppers gives it a rich, savory base, while the ricotta-spinach mixture adds creaminess and a fresh touch. I love that it layers both meat sauce and cheeses so every bite is packed with flavor.
Using wine in the sauce is a nice touch—it adds depth and helps deglaze the pan for extra flavor. Baking it covered first, then uncovering to melt the mozzarella, ensures a perfectly bubbly and golden top.
This is a great weeknight dinner idea or even a make-ahead dish for gatherings, since it can stand for a few minutes before serving. Classic comfort food with a slightly lighter twist using turkey instead of beef—definitely a winner!
This baked lasagna casserole looks absolutely delicious! I love how it keeps all the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna while making the recipe a little easier and more practical for a family dinner. The added vegetables, spinach, and mushrooms are a great way to bring more texture and nutrition to the dish. I also love the idea of baking it in individual portions such a cozy and convenient meal for busy days!
I really enjoy recipes that take a classic dish and give it a fresh twist, and this baked lasagna casserole is a perfect example. The combination of penne, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella sounds incredibly comforting. Adding extra vegetables is such a smart idea, especially for getting more flavor and nutrients into a family meal. This would be perfect for a cozy dinner on a cold evening! fnaf 1
I just made the baked lasagna casserole, and wow, it’s a game changer for weeknight dinners speed stars! The blend of flavors was so comforting. What’s your favorite twist to add in?
If you love casual puzzle games, bubble shooter offers simple controls, vibrant graphics, and hundreds of satisfying levels that are perfect for players of all ages.
Thanks for the info. What tools or scripts would you recommend to automate this kind of routine work?
good