It’s all in one pot and it’s comfort food to the max! Our kids go crazy for this quick and easy one pot lasagna pasta with a side of garlic bread for dipping!
Remember that picture I posted on instagram a while back about the one pot lasagna pasta recipe I had created for, Beef It’s What’s For Dinner? Well your response was amazing and so supportive I just couldn’t wait to get the recipe up here for all of you to try! Boy, this was the most nerve racking recipe I’ve ever created. I wanted it perfect, especially because I knew they would be testing it to make sure it’s perfect for all of you. So of course we busted out the best and used our Le Creuset pot. Boom!
I was asked to create a recipe that was easy to make, involved veggies, grains and beef and could be prepared quickly with few ingredients so obviously I was totally on board. Isn’t that the type of recipe we all love? And then Cade, being the genius that he is said, let’s make something that’s just in one pot so we don’t have to wash a gazillion dishes. Oh, heck yes!
We shot a few ideas around but one night when preparing dinner the idea came to me, one pot lasagna pasta! It’s hearty, cheesy and it can all be made in one pot. Boom!! Recipe testing quickly began and the first go was perfect! Which was fantastic because the more we tested the more we realized that this meal just totally works. No need to fuss about mistakes, it works every time!
Could You Use Cottage Cheese Instead of Ricotta Cheese?
If you are looking to lower the fat, you can use cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese in lasagna.
Of course if you find the pasta in the sauce isn’t your thing you can always cook it separate and then toss it in at the last minute. But we love it all cooked together plus the pasta really takes on the flavor of the sauce. And make sure you use fresh ricotta and a good Mozzarella. It really does make all the difference. In fact that’s why many of your Italian dishes don’t look like the restaurant, because the mozzarella wasn’t as good. And I’m happy to report that the Beef Checkoff came back that they loved the recipe! You can see it on their site HERE.
Can You Substitute Ground Turkey For Ground Beef?
You can generally substitute ground turkey for ground beef in most recipes.
The flavor will be different.
Ground turkey has less fat than ground beef.
One Pot Lasagna Pasta
One Pot Lasagna Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef, 93% lean or leaner
- 1 Zucchini (medium), chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1/2 Onion, chopped fine
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped fine
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped fine
- 1 jar Garden-Style Pasta Sauce, 24 to 26 ounces, or [url:2]our homemade[/url]
- 2 cups Water
- 6 ounces Mini Bow Tie (uncooked), farfalle pasta (about 2-1/8 cups)
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
- 2/3 Cup Bel Gioioso Ricotta Cheese
- 1-2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, sliced
- Thinly sliced or chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Heat ovenproof 5 to 6-quart Dutch oven or stockpot (we prefer Le Creuset) over medium heat until hot.
- Add Ground Beef, garlic, onion zucchini, and peppers; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into small crumbles and stirring occasionally.
- Stir in pasta sauce, water and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat. Stir in pasta.
- Spoon heaping teaspoons ricotta cheese over top of sauce.
- Slightly swirl ricotta into sauce, not mixing in completely.
- Cover with foil and bake in 375°F oven 10 minutes.
- Uncover. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 7 to 10 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- Let stand 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with basil before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
Authentic Italian Bolognese Sauce
Jennifer
Can I skip the ricotta cheese an not use a substitute if I don’t have anything for it 😭
Sweet Basil
Hi Jennifer! Yes, you can skip it. It will just be missing that lasagna flavor that comes from the ricotta. It will still be great!
Megan Serra
Have you ever tried this in a slow cooker? Any suggestions if I were to try it that way?
Sweet Basil
I haven’t, but I bet it would work great! Definitely brown the meat head of time, then throw everything except the pasta and cheeses for 3-4 hours on low. Then I would put the pasta and cheeses in for about the last 30 minutes. You won’t get that crispy cheese topping in the crockpot though. Let me know how it goes!
Megan
Do you not use salt in this recipe?
Sweet Basil
You can add salt if you’d like but the sauce is already seasoned and we haven’t needed more.
Lizzie Krisch
if I’m looking for a veggie alternative, would this be fine without the meat? Are there any substitutes or extra veggies you would suggest?
Sweet Basil
Oh it’s so good without the meat! We even add zucchini and peppers instead of meat
Natalie
Now it’s time for my family to go crazy with this pot! I love when I can add more cheese into this pot.
it would be perfect for the bread xD
Jennifer Belforte
The mozzarella — fresh (packed in water)? Or the drier stuff not packed in water?
Sweet Basil
Hi Jennifer, you can actually use either. I like the fresh packed in water which is what we used in the photo
Brittany
Step one and step two say to add peppers. I did it at step one, dos I mess it up?
Sweet Basil
Hi Brittany, Step one says to add the peppers and step two says “pepper”, this refers to black pepper as listed in the ingredients. Thanks for clarifying!
Tricia
Is it possible to bake this at a lower temperature or not bake at all? My pots can’t withstand 375°F.
Sweet Basil
Hi Tricia,
You can certainly lower the temperature and increase the baking time. 🙂
Josh D.
Not nearly enough pasta for all the sauce goodness. I wonder if a whole pound would cook correctly, or if it would be better to cook it on the side and mix in afterwards.
Sweet Basil
Hmmm, I would experiment for sure because the more space that’s taken up with pasta the more liquid will be needed.
Liddy
I cannot eat ricotta cheese. What would be a good substitute?
Sweet Basil
Hi Liddy, you can totally use cottage cheese!
Michele
If you made this in a crockpot would you need to add additional liquid?
Sweet Basil
Hi Michele, I haven’t tried it in the crockpot yet, but if you use the precooked noodles you should be fine.
Megan Serra
I’m curious if you ended up trying it in the crockpot and if you had any suggestions?
Kim
This was a hit in our house! Quick, easy and delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
Sweet Basil
Woohoo!!! I’m so glad! Thank you so much!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
This is my kind of dinner – so delicious!
Sweet Basil
Thanks so much Lori!
Diane {Created by Diane}
This is one meal my family will LOVE, it looks so delicious!
Sweet Basil
Thanks Diane!!
fabiola@notjustbaked
Seriously another, make me drool I am so hungry now, recipe! These all look delicious!
Sweet Basil
Thanks so much!!
Gerry @ gFoodness Gracious
One pot yummmmzz! Im also making Vijay’s carnitas tomorrow from here 🙂
Sweet Basil
Oh my gosh, they are so good!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
the cheeeeesy goodness!!! I love lasagna and I love having fewer dirty dishes too-win win!
Nora @ Savory Nothings
Love this! Lasagna is one of my favourites but it’s always such a hassle to make! Thanks for this easy yet scrumptious recipe!
Sweet Basil
It definitely goes way faster this way!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
This looks nine kinds of amazing!
Amanda
Drooling!!
Matt
This looks so insanely good, can’t believe how easy this is to make too. On my list!
Sweet Basil
Thanks Matt!!
heather @french press
I am in LOVE! so much so that this will be dinner tonight – lasagna is my daughters favorite meal, really the only meal she actually eats, and now I can do it in one pot!
LOVE
Sweet Basil
Yay!!! THat makes me so happy!
Karly
Love, love, love this!! I’ve never tried zucchini in lasagna, but I bet it’s perfect.
Sweet Basil
I don’t know what it is about it, but I love it!
Karli
I’ve made this recipe three times now and its been delicious each and every time! 🙂
Sweet Basil
Thanks Karli!!