Lazy Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Try this easy lazy lasagna freezer meal! A make-ahead comfort food classic that's freezer-friendly, perfect for meal prep, and a family favorite.
A Year of Meal Plans on a Budget

Today, we have for you, the epitome of effortless gourmet: our Lazy Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe. A fusion of all the classic lasagna elements, our recipe is a heavenly combination of soft cheese ravioli, hearty ground sausage, tasty marinara sauce, and a generous layer of gooey mozzarella.

Why you’ll love this Easy Freezer Lasagna Recipe

  • Crowd Pleaser: Lasagna wins everyone over, both young and old. 
  • Leftovers: Though delicious fresh, lasagna is extra yummy the next day. 
  • Simple: With just five ingredients, shopping and prep are as easy as it gets.
  • Kid Friendly: Who doesn’t love delicious cheese, mixed with pasta goodness. Your kiddos will love this recipe!

Ingredients for your 5 Ingredient Lazy Lasagna

  • 1 Lb ground Italian sausage
  • 12-16 ounces cheese ravioli (frozen or fresh)
  • 20 oz marinara
  • 1 pinch cinnamon
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 2 cups water

Every bite is like a little vacation to your favorite Italian bistro, except you never have to leave your kitchen. 

Aside from being absolutely yummy, our 5 Ingredient Lazy Lasagna Freezer Meal Recipe stands out for its convenience. We know all too well the chaos that comes with kids, extra curricular activities, school, work, and all the other things life throws at yo

Lazy Lasagna Recipe for Everyone

Whether you’re new to cooking, looking for easy meal solutions, or wanting to enter the world of make-ahead freezer meals, this recipe is perfect for you. Let’s get cooking and bring the cuisine of Italy to your table!




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Why you’ll love this Easy Freezer Lasagna Recipe

  • Crowd Pleaser: Lasagna wins everyone over, both young and old. 
  • Leftovers: Though delicious fresh, lasagna is extra yummy the next day. 
  • Simple: With just five ingredients, shopping and prep are as easy as it gets.
  • Kid Friendly: Who doesn’t love delicious cheese, mixed with pasta goodness. Your kiddos will love this recipe!
Lazy Lasagna Casserole
Try this easy lazy lasagna freezer meal! A make-ahead comfort food classic that's freezer-friendly, perfect for meal prep, and a family favorite.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 4
Calories 470 kcal
Equipment
  • 1 9×13 pan/dish
Ingredients
  
  • 1 lb Ground Italian sausage 
  • 12-16 oz Cheese ravioli 
  • 20 oz Marinara sauce 
  • 2 cups Water
  • pinch Cinnamon
  • 3-4 cups Mozzarella, shredded (for best results, shred a block of mozzarella) 
Instructions
 
Prep Directions
  • Label 9×13 pan/dish with recipe name and cooking directions according to your preferred labeling method.
  • In a skillet brown Italian sausage and set aside to cool. 
  • Add into the 9×13 pan, marinara sauce, water, cinnamon, and stir. Then add in the cheese ravioli and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese and cooled Italian sausage. 
  • Top the casserole with the remaining mozzarella cheese. 
  • Cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
Oven | Cooking Directions
  • Preheat oven to 400°F. *If using a glass casserole dish, see notes.
  • Remove Lazy Lasagna from freezer and place in preheated oven covered with aluminum foil. (ensure the aluminum foil going into the oven has nothing attached to it ex. Freezer label) 
  • Cook for 45-60 minutes.
  • Uncover and cook an additional 20-25 minutes.
  • Optional: Broil on high for 3 minutes. 
  • Step 5: Remove from oven, allow to rest for 10-15 minutes, then serve and enjoy! 
Dietary Adjustments
Make it Gluten-Free:
  • Ensure pasta is gf 
 
  • Ensure marinara sauce is GF 
 
Make it Dairy Free:
  • Omit mozzarella or use a DF mozzarella alternative 
 
  • Use a dairy free ravioli 

Notes

If using a glass casserole dish, either allow the meal to thaw on the counter for one hour before cooking, or put the meal in the oven when you turn it on to preheat. Putting a cold glass casserole dish into a hot oven will result in broken glass. Also, be sure to cover the casserole dish (foil or glass) with foil before cooking. 

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 23.5gProtein: 27.1gFat: 28.9g
Keyword 5 Ingredient Recipe, Easy Casserole Recipe, Easy Lasagna Recipe, Lasagna, Lazy Lasagna Recipe
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What to pair with your Lazy Lasagna Recipe with Few Ingredients

Sides:

Desserts:

Mocktails:

Substitutions:

  • Ground Beef: Substitute 1 lb of ground beef for the ground Italian sausage the recipe calls for if you don’t have Italian sausage on hand or would prefer a simpler meat flavor.
  • Parmesan: Deepen the flavor profile by adding ½ cup parmesan cheese in with the mozzarella.

Additions:

  • Vegetables: Sauté onions, bell peppers, or mushrooms with the ground sausage to add texture and nutritional value to the dish.
  • Herbs: Add dried Italian herbs, such as oregano, basil, and thyme, to the marinara sauce for a more robust flavor.

Equipment needed to make 5-Ingredient Lazy Lasagna

  • Casserole Dish (glass, ceramic, or aluminum foil)
  • Aluminum foil (or plastic/silicone cover for your glass/ceramic casserole dish)

*If using a glass or ceramic casserole dish, be sure it is tempered so it does not crack in the freezer.

How to Make a 5 ingredient Lazy Lasagna

Prep/freezer directions:

  1. Prepare a freezable casserole dish, labeling according to your preferred method.
  2. Brown Italian sausage.
  3. Drain the grease and allow the meat to cool.
  4. Mix all ingredients, except mozzarella, in the casserole dish.
  5. Top with fresh mozzarella, cover, and freeze.

Cooking directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. *If using a glass casserole dish, see notes. 
  2. Cook for 45-60 minutes, then remove the foil and cook for another 15 minutes. Optional: Broil on high for 3 additional minutes.
  3. Let rest for 10 minutes, then serve.

Best way to store Make-Ahead Lasagna for Busy Nights leftovers?

Lazy lasagna leftovers are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Allow the recipe to cool completely to room temperature before storing. Select a storage container/bag that is suitable for the leftovers, and label for safe keeping in the fridge. If you need longer storage, the freezer is a great option!

How long will 5 Ingredient Lazy Lasagna last in the fridge?

When properly stored, and placed in an appropriate container, your lasagna leftovers will stay fresh for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze Simple Lasagna Recipe?

We always recommend freezing before cooking, then consuming leftovers within the recommended time frame. To make this into a raw freezer meal, you need to prepare your casserole dish of choice. Then brown the sausage, drain, and let cool. Once cool, add all ingredients into the casserole dish, except the mozzarella cheese, then mix. Top with remaining fresh mozzarella cheese, cover and freeze for 3-6 months. If you have already preppared and cooked your lasagna, feel free to store any leftovers in the freezer. Follow the same procedures as you would if storing in the fridge. Be aware, that the freezing process, thawing, and freezing again may change the texture and flavor profile of meals.

How to reheat 5-Ingredient Make-Ahead Lasagna?

We recommend reheating this recipe in the oven, but it is re-heatable in the microwave and stovetop, too.


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Your Time-Saving Freezer Meal: Lazy Lasagna Questions Answered

Comment below if you have any questions we didn’t answer.

Should the top layer of lasagna be noodles, cheese, or sauce?

Most commonly, the top layer of lasagna is a layer of sauce that is then topped with cheese. We completely agree!

Is it better to freeze lasagna cooked or uncooked?

The best thing to do with lasagna is to freeze it uncooked. If you were to fully cook it, freeze it, and then reheat it, the end result would be very mushy.

What is the best container to freeze lasagna in?

Choosing a container to freeze lasagna in ultimately comes down to personal preference. A disposable pan is a great choice because you can throw it away when it’s used (which means no dishes to do). For the environmentally conscious and holistic chefs, a glass or ceramic dish is a great option, provided it has been tempered. Non-tempered glass or ceramic can crack in the freezer. 

Should I thaw frozen lasagna before reheating or cooking?

We recommend taking frozen lasagna from the freezer directly to the oven, unless you froze using a glass or ceramic dish. In that case, you should either put the frozen lasagna into the oven before preheating, or allow it to thaw/come to room temperature for an hour before putting into a preheated oven. 

How should you wrap lasagna for freezing?

If you’re freezing lasagna in an aluminum baking pan, cover with foil before freezing. If using a glass or ceramic dish, be sure it has been tempered so you have no cracking, then cover (either with foil or the plastic/silicone cover that came with your dish) and freeze.

Can you freeze lasagna in a glass Pyrex dish?

Glass Pyrex dishes can definitely go into the freezer with a few precautionary measures beforehand. You should always allow your casserole dish to be at room temperature before freezing, as freezing a hot casserole dish will result in cracking. 

Can you have too much cheese in lasagna?

While some cheese lovers would not agree, adding too much cheese to lasagna overpowers the other ingredients and makes the dish very heavy. We recommend following our recipe so everything is well-balanced.

If you like this recipe here are some other Italian inspired recipes you’re sure to love:

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how your BBQ Ribs whole 30 recipe turned out!! I really want to know.

And if you have ANY QUESTIONS comment here, I’m happy to help.

Comments

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  3. RB says:

    The ravioli is not listed as an ingredient. Do you recommend fresh or frozen? and how much?

    • Hannah Stewart says:

      either work. I have made this recipe with both fresh and frozen ravioli

  4. Emm says:

    how much ravioli is needed? it’s not listed in the ingredients

    • Hannah Stewart says:

      Oh no, I will update asap

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Hi! I'm Hannah

As a full time working mom of four, I know how hard it is to find time (or energy) to cook. That’s why I’ve spent over a decade perfecting freezer meal recipes to make sure they’re not only quick to prepare but packed with flavors the whole family will love!

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