This Lazy Ravioli Lasagna recipe is so quick and easy. It only needs a few ingredients and almost no prep time. It’s made with just a few ingredients, including ground beef, marinara sauce, frozen cheese ravioli instead of traditional lasagna noodles, and mozzarella cheese. It’s perfect for busy weeknights or when you want something tasty and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.
The Best Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
This baked ravioli lasagna is the perfect weeknight dinner for hectic evenings that require a fast and satisfying dinner without extensive cooking effort. This recipe saves time and money with its minimal ingredient requirements and the limited total time spent in the kitchen, making it the perfect fit for busy families or comfort food cravings.
To make this dish, you only need a bag of frozen cheese ravioli, your favorite pasta sauce, your choice of ground meat, and some shredded mozzarella cheese. Layer the ravioli, sauce, meat, and cheese in a baking dish and bake until bubbly and golden brown. Serve with a side salad or some garlic bread for a complete meal that everyone will love.
Ingredients For Lasagna With Ravioli
Frozen Cheese Ravioli: These are tiny pasta pillows filled with cheese. They take the place of the traditional lasagna noodles and ricotta cheese.
Ground Beef: Ground beef adds a savory, meaty flavor to the lasagna.
Mozzarella Cheese: This makes the top of the lasagna melty and cheesy. It’s so good!
Pasta Sauce: Pasta sauce is the base of the lasagna and provides the Italian flavors that make it so delicious.
Italian Seasoning: Italian seasoning is a mix of herbs and spices that give the lasagna a classic Italian flavor.
Garlic Powder: Garlic powder adds a subtle garlic flavor to the lasagna.
How To Make Lazy Lasagna with Ravioli
This is a step-by-step pictorial for visual learners; scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card with detailed ingredients and instructions.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a large skillet, place the ground beef along with your seasonings. Cook the meat over medium heat, stirring until it’s no longer pink. Afterward, remove any excess grease or fat from the skillet.
Tip! When browning the ground beef, use a large skillet and stir it occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly. Make sure there’s no pink left in the meat before draining the excess grease.
Step 2: Take your 8×8-inch casserole dish and pour one-third of your pasta sauce into it, making a single layer. This serves as the initial sauce layer.
Step 3: Place half of your frozen ravioli in an even layer on top of the sauce in the casserole dish. This forms the first pasta layer.
Tip! When layering the casserole, aim for an even distribution of ravioli, beef, cheese, and sauce to ensure every bite is delicious.
Step 4: Spread half of the browned ground beef evenly over the layer of ravioli. Then, add a half-cup of cheese evenly over the layer of ground beef.
Tip! Be careful when pouring the sauce layers. Spread it out gently with a spatula to evenly cover the ingredients below.
Step 5: Pour another one-third of the pasta sauce over the cheese layer. This begins building the next layer for your dish.
Step 6: Repeat the layering process, starting with the remaining frozen ravioli, followed by the rest of the ground beef and another one-third of the sauce. This forms a second set of layers.
Step 7: Finish by evenly sprinkling the remaining half-cup of cheese over the top. This will create a golden, cheesy crust.
Step 8: Place in oven and bake for 45-55 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and melted. Then remove from oven and serve hot, garnishing as desired.
Tip! Allow the lasagna with ravioli to rest for a few minutes after removing it from the oven. This helps the layers set and makes it easier to cut and serve.
Top Tips For Making This Recipe
Here are some tips to ensure that your easy ravioli lasagna recipe comes out delicious every time:
Prepare Wisely: Use a non-stick cooking spray to prepare the baking pan. This will help prevent the ravioli from sticking to the bottom of the dish.
Be Mindful with The Sauce: Cover the ravioli with sauce completely. This will ensure that the pasta cooks evenly and stays moist.
Baking Dish Size: If your casserole dish is a different size than the recipe suggests, adjust the cooking time as needed. A smaller dish may require slightly longer baking.
Serve with a Side Dish: Consider serving your casserole with a simple side salad or some garlic bread to complete the meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Frozen Ravioli To Make Lazy Lasagna Ravioli
Yes, frozen ravioli is a convenient and time-saving ingredient that can help you make a delicious lasagna dish in no time.
What type Of Marinara Sauce Should I Use?
You can use any marinara sauce that you like. I recommend using a high-quality marinara sauce with no added sugar.
Do I Need To Thaw The Frozen Ravioli Before Adding It To The Lasagna?
No, you need not thaw the frozen ravioli before adding it to the lasagna.
Can I Add Other Ingredients
Yes, you can add other ingredients to your lazy ravioli lasagna, such as cooked ground turkey, sausage, or vegetables.
Can I Use A Different Type Of Pasta Instead Of Ravioli
While this recipe is designed for ravioli, you can experiment with other pasta types. Just be mindful of adjusting cooking times if needed.
Can I Use Fresh Homemade Pasta Instead Of Frozen Ravioli?
Yes, you can use fresh, homemade pasta. However, be sure it’s partially cooked before assembling the casserole, as fresh pasta typically cooks faster than frozen.
How Do I Prevent My Cheese From Burning On Top?
To avoid burning the cheese, consider covering the casserole with aluminum foil for the first part of the baking time. Remove the foil for the last few minutes to allow the cheese to brown.
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
When it comes to storing leftovers, make sure to transfer the lasagna to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the lasagna for up to 3 months by covering it with aluminum foil and storing it in the freezer. To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and bake at 350°F for 20-30 minutes or until heated.
Variations And Substitutions
Meat: Use ground turkey, chicken, pork, or Italian sausage instead of ground beef for a different flavor profile. You can also omit the meat altogether for a vegetarian version.
Veggies: Add some spinach, mushrooms, or red pepper for extra flavor and nutrition.
Cheese: Experiment with different types of cheese to change the flavors. Try using Italian cheese blend, ricotta cheese, or even goat cheese.
Ravioli: While cheese ravioli is the most common choice, you can also use spinach ravioli or tortellini for a different flavor.
Sauce: Mix it up by using a different type of pasta sauce, such as tomato and basil, meat sauce, Alfredo sauce, or arrabbiata.
Toppings: Top the lasagna with fresh basil or parsley for a burst of flavor. Serve with garlic bread and a simple green salad for a complete meal.
Baking Dish: Make a mini version of the lasagna by using a muffin tin. Layer the ravioli, ground beef, sauce, and cheese in the muffin tins and bake according to the recipe.
Seasonings: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can use a mixture of dried oregano, basil, and thyme. Additionally, if you don’t have garlic powder, you can use minced garlic or garlic salt instead.
More comfort food recipes:
- Biscuits From Scratch Recipe
- Easy Chicken Cobbler Recipe: Viral TikTok Trend
- Easy Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole
Lazy Ravioli Lasagna
Ingredients
- 25 oz bag frozen ravioli
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 °F (175 °C).
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Break up the ground beef into small pieces with a spatula as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
- Season the ground beef with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder to taste.
- Pour ⅓ of the marinara sauce into a greased 8x8 inch baking dish.
- Place half of the frozen cheese ravioli in a single layer on top of the sauce.
- Sprinkle half of the ground beef over the ravioli.
- Sprinkle ½ cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ground beef.
- Pour ⅓ of the remaining marinara sauce over the cheese.
- Repeat steps 5-8 to create a second layer.
- Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Bake the lasagna for 45-55 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Make sure to cover the ravioli with sauce completely. This will ensure that the pasta cooks evenly and stays moist.
- To make the lasagna extra cheesy, top it with shredded Parmesan cheese before baking.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This will help the lasagna to set and make it easier to cut.