On a busy weeknight, this recipe can come in handy! Don’t spend time laboring over your family’s lasagna…it’s time to deconstruct! Super easy, cheesy, and absolutely delicious. Making it all in one pot is a timesaver and leftovers are “gold” the next day!
Let’s start with the noodles. You can use regular lasagna noodles and break them apart, but we prefer our little pasta ruffles, or what the Italians call “Mafaldine, opens in a new tab“. We actually have three totally different options to try here. Any of these mini lasagna ruffles would work and be delish.
Spinach Basil Garlic Pasta Ruffles, opens in a new tab is our more traditional bronze cut pasta option. If you are wanting higher protein, try our Protein Pasta, opens in a new tab. This time we decided to use our Low Cal Pasta, opens in a new tab, which is our low carb, lower calorie pasta. Can’t we then eat twice as much? Believe me, you are going to want too!:)
Instead of having to carefully layer each lasagna ingredient, which we all know takes time we don’t have, this Deconstructed Lasagna is a one pot wonder. You don’t have to be careful! It just works and there are so many variations you can introduce.
Deconstructed Lasagna Variations?
- Use all lean beef, or all sausage instead of a combo. Try ground turkey for a lower fat option.
- Skip the meat and sauté a combo of diced bell peppers, zucchini, squash, eggplant, or carrots instead (about 4-5 cups total)
- Substitute red wine for the beef broth.
- For some zippiness, add fire roasted tomatoes, red pepper flakes or diced jalapenos.
- Instead of fresh basil, add marjoram, Italian seasoning, and/or oregano to sauce.
- Substitute cottage cheese for the ricotta cheese.
- Use individual small skillets and add the cheese after you’ve filled the skillet with the pasta mixture. Then put in the oven!
Can this be gluten free?
- Of course, just use a gluten free pasta of your choice!
What about a plant based vegan Deconstructed Lasagna?
- Use any of the meat substitutes or make it with all veggies
- Substitute almond ricotta for the cheese (Kite Hill is a great brand), and also add approximately 2 T. nutritional yeast for additional flavor.
- Or substitute tofu smashed and seasoned with nutritional yeast, garlic, salt and pepper.
The fun part of this Deconstructed Lasagna is tucking and hiding the ricotta and mozzarella all over the skillet. Leave a few pieces on top as it looks so pretty and appetizing.
If you want to make this ahead, you can put the skillet in the fridge after the cheese is placed, and the skillet has cooled. When you are ready to reheat, place skillet, covered with foil, in a 350-degree oven for approximately 45 minutes. Take off foil with 10 minutes left to melt and brown the cheese a bit!
If you like these types of recipes, you might want to try:
Our Pretty Zucchini Lasagn, opens in a new taba which is veggie, healthy, and so pretty!
Tailgate Timballo, opens in a new tab is a dome masterpiece and really fun to make! Kids love it!
And for a lightened up casserole, Cheesy Beef & Noodle, opens in a new tab is a crowd pleaser!
And for more happenings with Pastabilities, follow us on Instagram @worldofpastabilities, opens in a new tab, or Facebook @pastashoppeusa, opens in a new tab! And remember, The World is Full of Pastabilities®!
