This Freezer Lasagna Recipe is one of my favorite easy, make-ahead freezer meals. It takes a little meal prep, but it is a perfect option for an easy dinner to take to a friend, like that new mom, and it's way healthier than the frozen ones!
48ozpasta sauce, (or 3 pints of homemade marinara)
Seasonings:
2tspsalt
1tspblack pepper
1tspdried oregano
Ricotta Cheese Filling:
30ozricotta cheese, (two containers)
1egg
2/3cupfinely grated parmesan cheese
1/2cupdried parsley
Additional Toppings:
16ozshredded mozzarella
8ozshredded parmesan cheese
dried parsley for garnish
Instructions
Directions:
Make the meat sauce: In a deep skillet, brown 2 pounds of ground beef* see notes for using frozen ground beef.
Then add 2 chopped onions, 1 grated carrot, and 1 sliced celery stalk. Once the onions are sweating, add 13 oz of drained canned mushrooms (if using) and cook until the veggies are heated and soft. Add the spices (1 tsp oregano, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper).
Add in the pasta sauce, give it a good stir, and turn it off. The meatsauce is ready for assembling. Set it aside.
Place nine pieces of the dried lasagna noodles inside the pan that you will be assembling the lasagna in (work with one pan at a time so they don't stick). Cover the pasta with boiling water and soak the noodles for 4 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the ricotta cheese filling by mixing together two containers of ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 2/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese, and 1/2 cup dried parsley in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside.
Assemble freezer lasagnas: drain the pasta noodles and hang over the rim of a colander so they don't stick (noodles should flex).
Add 1.5 cups of meat sauce to the bottom of the pan, then top with three noodles, 1/2 cup ricotta cheese filling, 2/3 cups shredded mozzarella, 2 Tbsp shredded parmesan, and 1.5 cups of meat sauce. Top with three noodles and repeat, ending with the last layer of meat sauce, 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella, and 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the top with dried parsley.
Repeat the process with the second pan. Cover disposable pans with heavy-duty foil and label the tops with a Sharpie titled "Freezer Lasagna", "Bake at 350°F for 1 hour". Then freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
**To brown frozen ground beef, place frozen beef (unwrapped) in a deep skillet with a lid. Pour 1/2 cup of water into the skillet and cover. Cook over medium-low heat until the meat is thawed, then, using a meat chopper, crumble the beef.
This lasagna recipe yields two pans of freezer lasagna. Each pan serves 14 people or 12 adults.
This recipe calls for uncooked noodles. If using oven-ready or no-boil noodles, be sure to have substantial liquid to properly hydrate the noodles.
The lasagna casserole should be thawed before baking.
If freezing lasagnas in glass baking pans, bring them to room temperature before baking or preheat the oven with the cold casserole inside. This prevents extreme temperatures that can cause the glass to shatter.
I like to make these on Saturday mornings so that I can use up vegetables to clean out the fridge. Add whatever veggies you have in the fridge.
Freezer Lasagnas can be prepped and stored in the fridge for up to 4 days.
*Canned mushrooms are optional.
Nutrition Facts
Freezer Lasagna Recipe
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
315
% Daily Value*
Fat
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
9
g
56
%
Trans Fat
0.4
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
6
g
Cholesterol
64
mg
21
%
Sodium
777
mg
34
%
Potassium
382
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
20
g
7
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
3
g
3
%
Protein
20
g
40
%
Vitamin A
926
IU
19
%
Vitamin C
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
298
mg
30
%
Iron
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.