Amys Lasagna-Style Casserole Recipe

Name: Amys Lasagna-Style Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 cups spaghetti sauce, recipe below; 1 lb penne or 1 lb rotini pasta; 1 egg, beaten; 15 ounces ricotta cheese or 1 small curd cottage cheese; 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened; 2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (reserve 1/2 cup for top); ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (reserve 2 T. for top); salt and pepper; ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (or use 1 T. dried parsley); 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 small onion, chopped; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 1 lb ground beef (I substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage); 4 ounces pepperoni, chopped (optional); 28 ounces crushed tomatoes; 28 ounces water; 15 ounces tomato sauce; 6 ounces tomato paste; ¼ cup parmesan cheese; ¼ cup fresh basil (or use 1 T. dried basil); fennel seed, and; crushed red pepper flakes, ground; 1 bay leaf; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon pepper

Servings: persons

4 cups spaghetti sauce, recipe below
1 lb penne or 1 lb rotini pasta
1 egg, beaten
15 ounces ricotta cheese or 1 small curd cottage cheese
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (reserve 1/2 cup for top)
½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (reserve 2 T. for top)
salt and pepper
¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (or use 1 T. dried parsley)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lb ground beef (I substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage)
4 ounces pepperoni, chopped (optional)
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
28 ounces water
15 ounces tomato sauce
6 ounces tomato paste
¼ cup parmesan cheese
¼ cup fresh basil (or use 1 T. dried basil)
fennel seed, and
crushed red pepper flakes, ground
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper

1
Prepare spaghetti sauce in advance; set aside to cool.
2
I do mine the night before and place in the refrigerator to cool overnight.
3
If using the recipe for my Grandma's spaghetti sauce, see recipe below.
4
Boil noodles al dente.
5
Drain and give a quick rinse in cold water to stop the cooking.
6
Stir the pasta into the spaghetti sauce; set aside.
7
In a separate bowl, combine egg, Ricotta (or cottage cheese), Mozzarella, Romano, salt, pepper and parsley.
8
In a foil-lined and greased 10x13-inch casserole pan, spread half of the pasta/meat mixture into the bottom of the pan; layer cheese mixture over all; top with remaining pasta/meat mixture.
9
Sprinkle the reserved Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese over the top.
10
(If freezing, stop here, cover with heavy duty foil and freeze.
11
Once fully frozen, you can pop the casserole out of the 10x13 pan and place in a large Ziploc bag to go back into the freezer.
12
Freeze for up to 3 months.
13
When ready to use, thaw in refrigerator; bake as directed.)
14
Bake in a 375F oven for 50 minutes.
15
Uncover and cook an additional 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly and nicely browned on top.
16
Grandma Shannon's Spaghetti Sauce:
17
Saute the onion, garlic and meat over medium-high heat.
18
(Add garlic after the onion and meat have been sauteed for 4-5 min.
19
).
20
Add the remaining ingredients and let simmer for 1 hour or more.
21
Serve over your favorite pasta.
22
Serve with green salad, French/Italian bread, and red wine.

1629

kcal

Calories

Fat

128

Carbs

Protein

Fat Carbs Protein

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.

Tips for the best results

Read through all the steps once before you start and measure out your ingredients first — it makes everything go more smoothly.
Taste as you go and adjust the seasoning before serving.
Avoid overcrowding the pan — cook in batches if needed for the best texture.
Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving so the flavors settle.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within a few days.

Variations & substitutions

Coconut cream is a reliable plant-based alternative to dairy cream.

No specific allergen information. Please check the ingredient list for possible allergens.

My Personal Notes

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How did you like this recipe?

This recipe makes 4 servings. You can adjust the portion size directly on this page.

You need 25 ingredients. The key ingredients include: 4 cups spaghetti sauce, recipe below, 1 lb penne or 1 lb rotini pasta, 1 egg, beaten, 15 ounces ricotta cheese or 1 small curd cottage cheese, and more.

Yes, Amys Lasagna-Style Casserole falls under the Pasta & Noodles category and is a great choice for this type of meal.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat gently before serving.

That's it — enjoy your meal!

Amys Lasagna-Style Casserole

Tips for the best results

Variations & substitutions

My Personal Notes

How did you like this recipe?

Frequently Asked Questions