Make Ahead Chili Cheese Lasagna Recipes

BBQ CHILI CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the chiliBrown your ground beef with your onions in a pan.
• Add the beef, onions and all your seasonings to the slow cooker and let it cook on low for at least 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4. *NOTE: If you follow the recipe measurements, you will have about double the amount you need for the lasagna. I do this because I like to get two separate meals out of one. Feel free to halve the recipe, or stick the rest in the freezer for a busy day.
• For the lasagna:Cook your noodles in boiling, salted water until just al dente (they will continue to cook in the oven). Cool them down in cold water so they're easy to handle.
• Puree your cottage cheese with the ½ tsp minced garlic.
• Assembly:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lay down a thin layer of sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan to keep the noodles from sticking. Lay down 3 noodles. Top with a thin layer of cottage cheese and a layer of chili. Sprinkle with a bit of cheese. Repeat 4 times. Top with remaining cheese.
• Cover with tin foil sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees. Remove tin foil and broil 1-2 minutes until golden brown.

MAKE-AHEAD CHILI & CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown meat with garlic in large skillet. Add next 7 ingredients; stir. Simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally.
• Spread 2 cups meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of 3 noodles, 1/2 cup each cottage cheese and shredded cheese, and 2 cups of the remaining meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining shredded cheese. Cool. Wrap tightly in foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Refrigerate overnight to thaw.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Unwrap lasagna, leaving just top covered with foil. Bake 1 hour 10 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 1 hour. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.

MAKE-AHEAD CHILI & CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Brown meat with garlic in large skillet. Add next 7 ingredients; stir. Simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally.
• Spread 2 cups meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of 3 noodles, ½ cup each cottage cheese and shredded cheese, and 2 cups of the remaining meat sauce. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining shredded cheese. Cool. Wrap tightly in foil. Freeze up to 2 months. Refrigerate overnight to thaw.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Unwrap lasagna, leaving just top covered with foil. Bake 1 hour 10 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 1 hour. Let stand 10 min. before cutting to serve.

EASY FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a blender or with an electric mixer, blend tomato sauce and cottage cheese together until smooth. Spoon a little of the sauce mixture in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Place a layer of cooked noodles over the sauce, and sprinkle a portion of the mozzarella, the cheddar and the parmesan over the noodles. Repeat layering of sauce, noodles and cheese; finish with a cheese layer.
• Bake in preheated oven 30 to 45 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.

MAKE-AHEAD CHEESEBURGER LASAGNA

Steps:

• Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, cook beef and onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in tomato sauce, water, ketchup and mustard. Simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat egg with fork or wire whisk. Stir in ricotta cheese and 2 cups of the cheese blend.
• Spread 1 cup beef mixture over bottom of baking dish. Top with 4 uncooked noodles. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over noodles; top with 1 1/2 cups beef mixture. Repeat layers once with 4 noodles, remaining ricotta mixture and 1 1/2 cups beef mixture. Top with remaining 4 noodles, beef mixture and 1 cup Cheddar cheese. Cover with foil; refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Bake lasagna, covered, 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 25 to 35 minutes longer or until bubbly. Remove from oven. Cover with foil; let stand 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.
• Just before serving, top with lettuce, tomato and pickles. Serve with additional ketchup if desired.

MAKE-AHEAD LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef and sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in marinara and pizza sauces. In a bowl, mix eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper., Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with 4 noodles, half of the ricotta cheese mixture, 1 cup meat sauce and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 375°. Remove lasagna from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

PERFECT FOUR-CHEESE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef with onion and garlic over medium-high heat until browned, 5-7 minutes; drain. Stir in herbs and tomato sauce. In a bowl, mix eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese., Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; layer with 4 noodles, cottage cheese mixture, an additional 4 noodles and half the remaining meat sauce. Repeat last 2 layers. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and remaining mozzarella cheese., Cover with greased foil; bake until cheese is melted, 50-55 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked lasagna. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake lasagna as directed until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, increasing time to 1 to 1-1/2 hours.

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.

MAKE-AHEAD MEXICAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, cook garlic, onion, ground beef, chili powder and cumin for 10 minutes until beef is browned and completely cooked.
• Drain if necessary.
• Stir in beans; set aside.
• Combine sour cream and flour until smooth; set aside. Combine tomato sauce and salsa; set aside.
• Place 1 1/2 tortillas in the bottom of lightly oiled 8 cup rectangular baking dish, overlapping slightly.
• Top with half each meat mixture, sour cream mixture and tomato sauce mixture.
• Repeat layers. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hour.
• Bake in 350F oven for 30 minutes until bubbly. Top with cheese, olives, chips and jalapenos; bake for 5 minutes.

MAKE AHEAD LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions.
• in separate bowl, combine cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and 1 cup mozzarella cheese and pesto.
• In large skillet, brown ground beef, draining off any accumulated grease. Add chopped onion and minced garlic. Saute' until onion is translucent. Stir in pasta sauce.
• Layer 1 cup beef mixture, 3 noodles, and 2 1/2 cups cottage cheese mixture in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Top with 3 noodles, 2 cups beef mixture, and 3 more noodles. Top with remaining cottage cheese mixture, 3 noodles, and beef mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese.
• Cover with plastic and then foil. Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove from refrigerator and let set on counter until oven is pre-heated to 375.
• Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 additional minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.