Easy Gift Lasagna

Unleash your inner chef as well as your southern hospitality with this Easy Gift Lasagna! Its immensly satisfying and a culinary masterpiece that you'll be proud to carry to the neighbors when they've had a new baby, an illness or when you just want to have food to share with those you love!

Crafted with simplicity in mind as well as your time, it's not like taking a casserole, instead, with just a few basic ingredients and minimal prep time, you can create this mouthwatering lasagna that is sure to impress even the toughest food critics.

It freezes great and it makes the perfect gift for someone who needs an easy meal to pop in the oven. They will be able to sink their teeth into the tender sheets of pasta and embrace the rich flavors of the tomato sauce, the generously layered cheeses like creamy ricotta and parmesan and the savory ground beef.

It's topped with a blanket of melted mozzerella. The whole thing is a testament to the art of Italian comfort food. This dish is guaranteed to steal the show leaving everyone asking for more when you take it to your friends and neighbors as a gift of hospitality!

You might have tried some of our other lasagnas like Cowboy Lasagna, Mushroom Lasagna with White sauce, Chorizo Mouthparty Lasagna Rolls or the Best Classico Lasaga Recipe Ever!

Here's What You'll Need

• You'll need a smaller aluminum pan. I like the 9x6 pans, but any along that size will work.
• Lasagna noodles
• Ground Beef
• Sauce
• Cheeses

Here's How You Do It

• Brown the ground beef.
• Layer in a pan with sauce and cheeses.
• Apply the lid and add directions to the lid for freezer storage.

Tips and Tricks

• When creating this recipe, it works well to use a bottled sauce like Classico, Prego, etc. This will save you time and your creation will still taste just as good to whomever you are gifting this lasagna.
• You can cook the noodles yourself or use the no cook type of lasagna noodles. If you choose to use the no cook type be sure of a couple of things: Do not overlap the noodles in the pan and do not allow the noodles to touch the pan either on the bottom or at the edges.
• Use ricotta cheese but if it is not available, use cottage cheese.
• An easy hack is to mix the cheese all together (except what you will put on the top) and then use the mixed cheese on the interior of the lasagna.
• Here's What the USDA has to say about frozen lasagna

PRO TIP: A bit of cheddar cheese mixed into your interior cheeses ads a fantastic pop of flavor. Make it about ⅓ of the shredded cheese mix.

Storage, Freezing and Reheating

You can store the uncooked lasagna in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Leftovers can last in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 5 days.

Freeze for up to 3 months.

To reheat, place the thawed lasagna in the oven at 350 for an hour. The frozen lasagna will need 2 hours in a 350 oven.

Watch Me Make This Recipe

Did you make this lasagna and take it to a friend? I hope so! Come visit me on social media and let me know how it went, ok?

You can also leave me a comment in the comment section below, that helps others to find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes to and for that I thank you! I can't wait to see your comments, I answer every one myself.

Easy Gift Lasagna

This recipe for Easy Gift Lasagna is the perfect dish to take to a new neighbor, sick friend or the bereaved – everyone loves it

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Easy Gift Lasagna, Lasagna

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 612kcal

Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

• 23.5 oz spaghetti sauce or homemade spaghetti sauce
• 9 noodles Lasagna
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• 8 oz Ricotta Cheese
• 4 Cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

• Prepare Sauce according to instructions and set aside or open sauce jar.
• Prepare Lasagna noodles according to package instructions –be sure to salt the water. After drained, toss with olive oil to help prevent sticking
• Cut Lasagna noodles to the required length to fit in the pan. Save the smaller pieces as you may need to piece them together while making the lasagna.
• Set your containers out in a row in front of you. Coat the bottom of each pan with one large spoonful of sauce. Then begin to layer noodles, Spoonfulls of ricotta cheese that are sufficient to coat the noodles, several spoonfuls of sauce to make a layer over the ricotta, shredded mozzarella to cover the sauce then repeat starting with the noodles again. Should make 2-3 layers depending on depth of pan. End with layer of Mozzarella cheese and sprinkle the parmesan over the top.
• Cover with the included top and label with a sharpie marker – name of dish, instructions for preparation and date of preparation. Use by date.

Notes

It is always easier to make several of these at one time, place them in the freezer and they you have them ready when you need them! 

Take this gift lasagna, a bag of salad, a loaf of bread with some flavored butter and a small dessert for a complete meal that will be appreciated! 

• When creating this recipe, it works well to use a bottled sauce like Classico, Prego, etc. This will save you time and your creation will still taste just as good to whomever you are gifting this lasagna.
• You can cook the noodles yourself or use the no cook type of lasagna noodles. If you choose to use the no cook type be sure of a couple of things: Do not overlap the noodles in the pan and do not allow the noodles to touch the pan either on the bottom or at the edges.
• Use ricotta cheese but if it is not available, use cottage cheese.
• An easy hack is to mix the cheese all together (except what you will put on the top) and then use the mixed cheese on the interior of the lasagna.
• Here's What the USDA has to say about frozen lasagna

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Easy Gift Lasagna

Amount Per Serving

Calories 612 Calories from Fat 387

% Daily Value*

Fat 43g66%

Saturated Fat 24g120%

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 14g

Cholesterol 134mg45%

Sodium 1940mg81%

Potassium 667mg19%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 42g84%

Vitamin A 1926IU39%

Vitamin C 12mg15%

Calcium 1003mg100%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

This article orginally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on March 5, 2015 and has been updated to be the most helpful guide to making Easy Gift Lasagna Ever. It would only be more helpful if I made it for you.

A Verse to Share

Please God help me be more humble.

Psalm 25:9

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.