An easy classic recipe that’s perfect for freezer cooking! This Lasagna Penne Pasta Casserole recipe makes three which is perfect for potlucks, families in need, sick neighbors, etc.
Hungry? So were we last night when we made this delicious casserole.
I have been wanting to post this for awhile, but I make it from scratch with no measuring, so tonight I took the time to measure it out for you, so you could enjoy the recipe too.
Also, this makes THREE casseroles.
I love that because I can freeze two of them right away and bake the other one.
If you’re looking for a good freezer cooking recipe, this one is awesome.
If you only want to make one, you will probably need to adjust the recipe, but I highly recommend making all three, even if you’re not a freezer cooker, because in a week or two when you’re stressing about dinner and you can pull one out of the freezer.
Plus, if you want to donate to a friend or neighbor or family in need, you wind up with extra!
Easy Lasagna Penne Pasta Casserole Recipe
This recipe makes three casseroles. Freeze two and enjoy one for dinner. Pairs excellent with a salad, homemade garlic bread, Italian style veggies, etc.
Lasagna Penne Pasta Casserole Recipe
An easy classic recipe that's perfect for freezer cooking! This Lasagna Penne Pasta Casserole recipe makes three which is perfect for potlucks, families in need, sick neighbors, etc.
Ingredients
- 3 boxes of penne style pasta
- 1.5 lbs. ground beef
- ¼ c. - ½ c. chopped onion (to your taste)
- 3 c. cottage cheese
- 3 jars (15 ½ oz.) spaghetti sauce (honestly, we use tomato sauce, it's cheaper & I season it with my own herbs & spices)
- 3 c. shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 c. water
- 1 c. Parmesan cheese
- seasonings, to taste (see recipe)
Instructions
Cook pasta al dente (almost done but not super soft); drain. Using a large skillet, brown the ground beef and the onion. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasonings, salt & pepper to taste.
Either in a separate pot, or if your skillet is big/deep enough, stir the spaghetti sauce in with the ground beef. Add the cottage cheese and the the almost cooked pasta.
Using three 9x13 baking dishes, divide the mixture into the three dishes. Add ⅓ c. water to each casserole. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over each casserole. Top two of the casseroles with 1 cup of Mozzarella cheese each. Cover these two casseroles with a freezer proof lid (they make baking dishes for this). Pop into the freezer.
Take your last casserole with no cheese on top and bake at 350 degrees for ½ hour. Remove from the oven, top with the Mozzarella cheese and return it to the oven for 10-15 minutes to melt and brown the cheese. Yum!
Freezer Cooked Casserole: Remove from the freezer and remove the lid while you wait for the oven to preheat. When you're ready to cook it, cover the dish with tin foil, and place the casserole in your preheated 375 degree oven for about 45-55 minutes. Pull it out and check it. Remove tinfoil and continue cooking about 10-15 minutes or until cooked through. Enjoy!
BelaAnn
Monday 18th of July 2011
Do you think the skim milk Ricotta cheese would substitute well for the cottage cheese? My family won't touch anything with cottage cheese in it, no matter how well I disguise it.
Nicole Humphrey Cook
Monday 18th of July 2011
Yes, that would be fine. Truth be told, you can't even tell the cottage cheese is in it because it just blends with everything else. I use whatever I have on hand, so if that's Ricotta, it goes. Hope you enjoy it! :)
TheProDiva
Thursday 14th of July 2011
This looks YUM!!!! I love making pasta dishes at my house, and this will definitely go in the recipe box! Thanks for sharing!
Nicole Humphrey Cook
Thursday 14th of July 2011
This was very good, and while it sounds complicated, it actually was not! :) Enjoy and let me know if you try it!!