Freezer Lasagna Recipes

FREEZER LASAGNA

Steps:

• First, cook the lasagna noodles, if you're not using the no-cook noodles. Drain the noodles, toss lightly with olive oil and lay flat on paper towels.
• In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage, and cook while crumbling with a wooden spoon. When the sausage is fully cooked and brown, stir in the Marinara sauce. Set the sauce aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta cheese, eggs, parsley, salt and pepper.
• Have the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese ready on the side.
• It's time to assemble the first lasagna: add a small amount of red sauce on the bottom of an 8x8" dish, and smear it around to coat the bottom. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top--tuck under the ends of the noodles, or leave them sticking up to get crispy in the oven. Add a one-quarter of ricotta mixture and spread it evenly across the noodles. Top with one-quarter of the meat mixture. Add one-sixth of the grated mozzarella. Add another layer of noodles, making sure they face the opposite direction. Follow with another one-quarter of the ricotta mixture, another one-sixth of the mozzarella, and then one-quarter of the meat mixture. Finally, add another one-sixth of the mozzarella on top and sprinkle over 1/4 cup of the Parmsan cheese.( Basically, it's two layers of noodles, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese mixture, but three layers of grated mozzarella).
• Repeat with the remaining ingredients into a second pan, preferably an 8x8" freezer-safe foil pan.
• Preheat the oven to 350, and cook the lasagna for 30-40 minutes, until evenly hot and bubbling around the edges.
• For the lasagna meant for the freezer, cover it with the lid, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and then freeze for up to 3 months. To eat, remove the lasagna from the freezer and let thaw in the fridge for up to 12 hours. Remove the plastic wrap and lid, but keep the foil on the top of the lasagna. Preheat the oven to 350, and cook the lasagna for 55-65 minutes, or until evenly hot and bubbling around the edges. If the lasagna comes straight from the freezer, expect 75-90 minutes of cook time, but be sure to keep it covered with foil the entire time.

FREEZE-AHEAD LASAGNA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium; add flour and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes (do not let flour mixture darken); whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer, and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add spinach, peas, and carrots; season with salt and pepper. Set sauce aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and teaspoon pepper.
• In the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of vegetable sauce. Layer noodles, half the remaining vegetable sauce, another noodles, half the ricotta mixture, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmesan; repeat.
• Cover dish with lightly oiled aluminum foil, and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake 45 minutes, uncover, and bake until bubbling and browned, about 20 minutes more. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

KAREN'S LAZY DAY LASAGNA FREEZER MEAL

Steps:

• Assembly Directions:.
• In a large bowl, mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese , eggs, parsley, onion powder, basil and pepper until well blended; set aside.
• In a medium bowl, mix together spaghetti sauce and cooked ground beef. In a 9x13-inch glass baking dish or (2- 8x8-inch pans) spread 3/4 cup meat sauce on the bottom. Layer 3 uncooked noodles on top of the meat sauce. Next spread 1/2 of the cheese mixture and 1-1/2 cups meat sauce. Layer 3 more uncooked noodles on top of the meat sauce. Spread with remaining cheese mixture. Top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining meat sauce. Pour water around the outside edges.
• Freezing Directions:.
• Place dish in a 2-gallon freezer bag. Or, if you want to wrap it in foil, cover the top of the lasagna with wax paper or plastic wrap and then the foil, because the acid in the tomato sauce will leave small holes in the foil. Label, seal and freeze.
• Serving Directions: Remove pan from freezer and thaw at least overnight in the refrigerator. Bake covered at 375°F for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. To bake from the frozen stage, add 30 minutes to the total baking time.

MAKE ONCE, EAT TWICE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, breaking into crumbles; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, ricotta cheese, 4-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt and pepper., Drain noodles. Spread 1 cup meat sauce in each of 2 greased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Layer each with 3 noodles, 1 cup ricotta mixture and 1-1/2 cups meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with Parmesan cheese and remaining mozzarella cheese. , Cover and freeze 1 lasagna for up to 3 months. Cover and bake remaining lasagna at 375° for 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting., To use frozen lasagna: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 375° for 60-70 minutes or until heated through. Uncover; bake 10 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

EASY RAVIOLI LASAGNA (MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER MEAL)

Steps:

• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Squeeze thawed spinach between several layers of paper towels to remove as much excess moisture as possible. Transfer spinach to a medium bowl and stir in ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until well combined.
• Pour 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 1/2 of the ravioli in a single layer over the sauce. Pour 1 cup sauce over the ravioli, then spread ricotta mixture over the sauce and top with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining ravioli, remaining sauce, and remaining mozzarella.
• Cover with parchment paper and then cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to one month.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place frozen covered lasagna in the preheated oven and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Uncover and bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 more minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.