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The Easiest Lasagna Recipes Ever
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We found four simple ways to make the ultimate Italian-American casserole, ranked from crock-pot easy to one-skillet-30-minutes-don't-tell-anyone-I-hardly-lifted-a-finger easy.
By Lynn Andriani
A Lasagna That Lets You Leave The House While It Cooks
Chris Granger/Colin Lacy
We knew slow cookers make the best stews, soups and even meatloaf, but we didn't realize they were such fantastic tools for making lasagna -- until now. In Emeril Lagasse's book Cooking with Power, he shares a basic recipe where you make a quick meat sauce on the stove, and then layer it into the slow cooker with noodles (no need to precook them) and cheese. It's a terrific technique that lets you enjoy cheesy baked lasagna even if you weren't home for the bulk of the cooking time.
Get the recipe: Slow-Cooked Lasagna
A Veggie Lasagna Without Tons Of Chopping
Elegant Affairs Caterers
Those cans of pumpkin puree aren't just for pies and breads: The squash also happens to make an unexpected (and delicious) filling for vegetarian lasagna. As this straightforward recipe from celebrity caterer Andrea Correale shows, it's as simple as mixing the pumpkin with flavorings that are both familiar (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove) and unexpected (sauteed garlic); and then, spreading it into a dish with the noodles and cheese.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Lasagna
A No-Noodle Lasagna
Fred Minnick
Frozen ravioli and jarred spaghetti sauce are the secrets to this cheater's version of the classic. Although this recipe makes mini lasagna, which is perfect for a party, you can also use an 8-by-8-inch baking dish and serve the meal family style. Start by spreading sauce on the bottom; and then, cover it with a layer of ravioli, followed by the ricotta mix, mozzarella and more sauce. Repeat until you're out of ingredients and bake until bubbly.
Get the recipe: Ravioli Lasagna
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A 30-Minute Lasagna (No, Really)
Kate Dean
Kate Dean, who writes the blog I Heart Eating, created this one-skillet recipe for nights when her main goal is: Get dinner on the table. Fast. She sautes ground beef, adds canned tomatoes and seasonings and then throws in wide egg noodles (which are almost like mini-lasagna sheets). The pasta cooks in the sauce as she stirs in ricotta and shredded mozzarella -- and the cheeses melt on the spot.
Get the recipe: Easy One-Skillet Lasagna
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Before You Go
Casseroles For Every Taste
The Casserole For When You Want Mac 'N' Cheese And Italian Food(01 of 20)
Italian-American cookbook author Lidia Bastianich says a bubbling casserole of shell-shaped pasta stuffed with ricotta is something everyone in her family, from kids to grandmothers, loves. If you're going to make the dish ahead of time, place four to six shells in each container, ladle sauce over them and seal. They'll keep in the freezer for up to two months.Get the recipe: Baked Stuffed Shells (credit: Marcus Nilsson)
The Casserole For People Who Say They Don't Like Casseroles(02 of 20)
Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock -- better known as the Casserole Queens -- have yet to meet a skeptic who isn't converted by their chicken pot pie. Beyond the usual roasted chicken and vegetables, this version has white wine, tarragon and shallots.Get the recipe: World's Greatest Chicken Pot Pie (credit: Ben Fink)
The Saturday Night Casserole(03 of 20)
Cook's Aunt Joan oozed charm and elegance, and this dish, inspired by one of her recipes, practically does the same. This take on the well-known chicken-and-broccoli casserole is perfect for a dinner party since each portion comes wrapped in its own crepe. It goes well with a crisp white wine like a Sauvignon Blanc.Get the recipe: Chicken Divan Crêpes with Gruyère (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For When You Want To Go Old School(04 of 20)
Stuffed peppers were big in the '50s and '60s, but all these years later, we still love the novelty of getting an individually sized bell pepper neatly packed with savory stuffing on our plate.Get the recipe: Mamaw's Stuffed Peppers (credit: Ben Fink)
The Casserole For When You Want An Excuse To Eat A Corn Muffin For Dinner(05 of 20)
Golden brown cornbread tops this homey mixture of chicken, peas, potato and carrots.Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole Everyone Should Make At Least Once In Her Life(06 of 20)
Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon is one of the most delicious beef dishes ever created. It takes some time to make, but you can prepare it completely ahead, and it only gains in flavor when reheated. Get the recipe: Boeuf Bourguignon (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For When Your Personal Chef Is On Vacation(07 of 20)
Darren McGrady -- who was the personal chef for Queen Elizabeth II; Diana, Princess of Wales; and Princes William and Harry for 15 years -- says this cottage pie (also known as shepherd's pie) is Prince William's all-time favorite entrée.Get the recipe: Cottage Pie (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For When You Want A Mexican Meal Without The Heartburn(08 of 20)
Rocco DiSpirito's new version of enchiladas relies on healthy foods like bright-tasting tomatillos and cilantro for flavor instead of full-fat cheese and sour cream.Get the recipe: Cheesy Turkey Enchiladas with Tomatillo Salsa and Cilantro (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole Your Mom (Probably) Never Made(09 of 20)
Zucchini, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, beef and lamb come together in an exotic take on meatloaf. Get the recipe: Cardamom Spiced Meat Loaf (credit: Gentl and Hyers)
The Casserole For When You Don't Feel Like Making A Side Salad(10 of 20)
For nights when you don't even have the energy to make a vegetable to go with your casserole, we recommend this classic dish spiked with broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes.Get the recipe: Lunch Lady Doris's Spicy Mac and Cheese (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole That Reminds Us Why We Love Casseroles(11 of 20)
This update to the classic mac 'n' cheese will work with any semihard cheese but is particularly good with an international blend of French Mimolette, aged Dutch Gouda and American Vella dry Jack.Get the recipe: Macaroni and Many Cheeses (credit: Thinkstock)
The Macaroni And Cheese Casserole That Saves Room For Dessert(12 of 20)
Whole wheat pasta, Greek yogurt and butternut squash add flavor to this lightened-up version of mac 'n' cheese -- without the extra calories. Get the recipe: Healthy Mac and Cheese (credit: Thinkstock)
The Thanksgiving Casserole You'll Make All Winter Long(13 of 20)
So simple and familiar -- a sweet-potato dish that's bright orange and plenty sweet -- this is the side dish that keeps on giving. Get the recipe: Baked Mashed Sweet Potato with Orange and Pecan (credit: Thinkstock)
The Tuscan Sun Casserole(14 of 20)
These scalloped potatoes are made with broth, not milk, and get extra flavor from a sun-dried tomato pesto. Get the recipe: Scalloped Potatoes with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For Farmers' Market Fiends(15 of 20)
Nutritionist-turned-chef-turned-greenmarket-champion Laura Pensiero incorporates mushrooms, fresh herbs and two full heads of radicchio into this lasagna.Get the recipe: Chicken, Mushroom and Radicchio Lasagna (credit: Gentl and Hyers)
The Lazy (And Health-Conscious) Woman's Casserole(16 of 20)
You can stock nearly all of the ingredients for this baked spaghetti dish -- from canned tomatoes to whole wheat pasta -- in your pantry so you can make a healthy dinner without taking an extra trip to the supermarket. Get the recipe: Spaghetti al Forno (credit: Gentl and Hyers)
The Casserole To Eat On An Autumn Night(17 of 20)
Make this dish while you can still get locally grown peppers and tomatoes. With shrimp, crabmeat, sea scallops and flaky white fish such as snapper or cod, it's a hearty, warm stew, begun on the stove top and finished off in the oven.Get the recipe: Boo-yah Bouillabaisse (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For Artists(18 of 20)
Paella may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think casserole, but it is a one-dish wonder that deserves a place with the classics. The dish is a blank canvas; this recipe calls for chicken, sausage, shrimp, clams, peas and asparagus -- but you can add any fish, meat or vegetables to this dish and call it your own. Get the recipe: Paella (credit: Thinkstock)
The Any-Time-Of-Day Casserole(19 of 20)
You may make this potato dish from Paula Deen for breakfast, but you'll be eating the leftovers all afternoon and into the night.Get the recipe: Paula Deen's Hash Brown Casserole (credit: Thinkstock)
The Casserole For When You Want To Eat Dinner For Breakfast(20 of 20)
With turkey sausage, fresh rosemary, tomatoes and Fontina cheese, this meal is like a lasagna for early birds.Get the recipe: Country Strata with Sausage, Fontina and Rosemary (credit: Thinkstock)