Skip the oven and all the prep, and make this lazy lasagna with Italian sausage instead when you are craving all the flavors of traditional lasagna. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for family dinners on busy weeknights.
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Lasagna is one of my family’s all-time favorite dishes. It’s the perfect comfort food to enjoy all year long. Whether it’s a cold winter day, a rainy fall night, or a chilly spring afternoon, it’s hard to resist all that cheesy goodness.
But the one drawback of classic lasagna is that it can be time-consuming to prepare and bake. So, even when you are craving all those delicious flavors, it can be challenging to find the time, especially on busy weekdays.
Luckily, there is a way to enjoy this traditional dish without all the work with this lazy lasagna recipe. It is ideal when you want a quick and easy dinner without all the hassle. This stovetop version is perfect for busy families or anyone wanting a hearty and cheesy pasta meal in under 30 minutes.
It’s made with rotini pasta, ground Italian sausage, creamy cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan cheese for a simple-to-make, freezer-friendly meal that will make your weeknight dinner stress-free. I hope you love this super-easy lazy lasagna recipe as much as my family does. Enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Lazy Lasagna With Italian Sausage
- No baking required, just a quick and easy shortcut recipe made on the stovetop when you are craving lasagna but don’t want to spend hours making it.
- Customizable, as you can add veggies, swap out the meat, add some spice, or bake it if you want a crispy topping like traditional lasagna.
- Family-friendly, making this easy pasta dish is perfect for busy weeknights and picky eaters as kids love all the cheesy flavors in this delicious recipe.
Looking for more easy pasta recipes to make on busy nights?
- Easy Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta Recipe
- Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Shortcut Chicken Parmesan Bake
- Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Alfredo Bake
- Italian Sausage and Spinach Alfredo
Lazy Lasagna with Italian Sausage
Ingredients for This Lazy Lasagna
Make this creamy, cheesy lazy lasagna for family dinners on busy weeknights, when you are craving traditional baked lasagna, but you’re short on time. A quick and easy meal your whole family will love that you can have on the table in under 30 minutes.
You will need:
- ground Italian sweet sausage
- pasta sauce
- rotini pasta
- cottage cheese
- parmesan cheese
- mozzarella cheese
- garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
How to Make This Lazy Lasagna with Italian Sausage
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook your rotini according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the ground Italian sausage over medium heat in a skillet until brown and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add your pasta back to the pot along with your cooked Italian sausage and the pasta sauce. Stir in the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, the 1½ cups of the mozzarella cheese, and seasonings. Mix until combined and creamy.
- Cook on medium-low heat until everything is warmed through (about 5-10 minutes), and then sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese on top. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.
Variations:
- Love veggies? Add some sauteed mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or spinach.
- If you want it to have a little more spice, you can add in some hot Italian sausage or add in some red pepper flakes.
- You can make this recipe lighter by using ground turkey, part-skim mozzarella, and low-fat cottage cheese.
- Prefer a baked version? Preheat your oven to 350°F. Once everything is combined, pour it into a 9×13-inch baking dish, and top it with the ½ cup of mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes or until warmed through, and the cheese has melted.
Helpful Tips
- Keep the heat on medium-low after adding the cheese so that it doesn’t stick to the pan or start separating.
- Let it sit for 3-5 minutes when it’s done off the heat, so it will thicken up in the pot.
Storage:
- Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze this for up to 2 months, just make sure that the dish is completely cooled and it’s portioned into airtight containers or freezer bags. Then, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the microwave or on the stove.
Lazy Lasagna with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage ground
- 24 ounce pasta sauce
- 16 ounce rotini pasta
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook your rotini according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the ground sweet Italian sausage over medium heat in a skillet until brown and cooked through. Drain any excess grease.
- Add your pasta back to the pot along with your cooked Italian sausage and the pasta sauce.
- Stir in the cottage cheese, parmesan cheese, the 1½ cups of the mozzarella cheese, and seasonings. Mix until combined and creamy.
- Cook on medium-low heat until everything is warmed through (about 5-10 minutes), and then sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese on top.
- Cover and cook on low for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with garlic bread and a side salad.
Notes
Variations:
- Love veggies? Add some sauteed mushrooms, onions, bell peppers, or spinach.
- If you want it to have a little more spice, you can add in some hot Italian sausage or add in some red pepper flakes.
- You can make this recipe lighter by using ground turkey, part-skim mozzarella, and low-fat cottage cheese.
- Prefer a baked version? Preheat your oven to 350°F. Once everything is combined, pour it into a 9x13-inch baking dish, and top it with the ½ cup of mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes or until warmed through, and the cheese has melted.
Helpful Tips
- Keep the heat on medium-low after adding the cheese so that it doesn't stick to the pan or start separating.
- Let it sit for 3-5 minutes when it's done off the heat, so it will thicken up in the pot.
Storage:
- Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze this for up to 2 months, just make sure that the dish is completely cooled and it's portioned into airtight containers or freezer bags. Then, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the microwave or on the stove.
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