September 20, 2015

Pizza Lasagna

Recipe challenge, week thirty-seven.


This recipe name is misleading.  This lasagna does NOT have pizza ingredients in it, but you could probably put pizza ingredients in it.  I made this on a Sunday at 7pm after a duck hunting trip to the middle of nowhere and I really only made it because Scott wanted food for dinner.  I would've been satisfied with cereal.  It was ready to eat before he had unloaded the kayak.

Not only was it delicious, but it was in the oven within 20 minutes AND it made two 8x8 pans, so I was able to freeze one for a busy night (said busy night has since come and gone and it was delicious that time too).

The secret is the oven-ready lasagna noodles.  They have a doughy texture, which is why this tasted like pizza smothered in homemade sauce, ricotta, and fresh spinach. I call it Pizza Lasagna because it tasted like and had the texture of a deep-dish pizza.

A perfect weeknight dinner.

Pizza Lasagna
makes two 8x8 pans or one 13x9 pan

1 package of oven-ready lasagna noodles
2-3 cups of marinara (1 jar)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese + more for sprinkling on the top
1/2 shredded Parmesan cheese
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, loosely packed
1 16-oz. container ricotta cheese
2 t. dried Italian seasoning (or fresh basil and oregano minced, if you have them)
1 egg
Ground beef or turkey, if you have it (I didn't)

In a mixing bowl, mix the mozzarella, Parmesan, spinach, ricotta, egg, and spinach. Stir it together until well-combined.

In your pan (or pans), spread 1/4 of the marinara into the bottom. Layer in noodles, spread a scoop (1/3 a cup) of the cheese mixture, and then another 1/4 cup of sauce. Repeat until all of the cheese/noodles/sauce are used.  (Step by step pictures would be nice, but it's just layering lasagna.)

Sprinkle extra mozzarella over the top.

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Check at 20 minutes, though.  Remove the foil and broil for a few minutes until the cheese on top is browned. Let cool for a few minutes to set before you cut it.

For freezing: Wrap the foil pan in plastic wrap, then wrap tightly in foil. If you're using an 8x8 pan, it will fit into a Ziploc freezer bag.  Store in the freezer for up to two months. If you're using a larger pan (they do make bigger freezer bags), wrap it very tightly in another layer of plastic wrap after the foil.  Be sure to store flat in the freezer.  When ready to bake, just unwrap all the layers, be sure to cover the top in foil and then put into a 350 degree oven while still frozen.

6 comments:

  1. Mmmmm....sounds so yummy! I love lasagna and pizza! Sadly, now, I have to use Gluten Free lasagna noodles, and I can no longer make lasagna quickly because they have to be boiled first. Boo.

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  2. This sounds tasty! The Pioneer Woman has a recipe for pizza lasagna that involves using pepperoni, ground beef and ground sausage for the meat mixture. I think she also calls for a bunch of bell peppers and other traditional pizza veggies mixed into the marinara sauce. I've never tried it because I hate bell peppers so this version sounds much better to me!

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  3. YES!! This looks and sounds amazing.

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  4. this looks amazing! i love lasagne and could eat it every day.. my husband hates it. he's so weird.

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  5. The oven-ready lasagna is always hit or miss for me, but I definitely agree with the doughy texture of the noodles. We loooove lasagna.

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  6. This looks like the BEST THING EVER. I love pizza anything. I tried pizza quesadillas a few years back, and they were amazing.

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