With the temps finally simmering down, there is nothing better than comfort food to ring in the new season. We’re so close to fall, which means we’re certainly falling for flavor. One of my favorite comfort food recipes is a two sauce lasagna. It’s been a huge hit with my family, and I love making it for my extended family, too.
It’s no secret that I’m extremely close to my family. Food is our love language for sure. Over the past two weeks, we have shared many meals together, gathered around the table. People brought food to my grandma’s house during our time of mourning, and it’s a wonderful sentiment to show love. But comfort food has always been a part of my family’s life. Sitting around the table together, feasting on favorite meals is how we bond. It’s where some of my fondest memories have taken place, at the table together. Because I grew up with that, it most certainly is something I want to pass on to my own family. Every day, we sit down at dinner, say grace, and break bread. It’s family time at its finest. I share my recipes with hopes that you can do the same with your family and friends. In a busy world, it’s important to take the time to savor the things that matter: your people. And if they’re anything like mine, they love to eat and be merry. This recipe will certainly do the job.
TWO SAUCE LASAGNA
WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1 package of oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 15 oz. container of part skim ricotta cheese
- 10 oz. frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese (divided)
- 2 eggs
- 1 pound of ground beef or turkey
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 jar (25 oz) of Mezzetta Napa Valley Homemade Marinara sauce
- 1 jar of Alfredo sauce
DIRECTIONS:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook and drain one pound of ground beef or turkey in a large skillet. Add one can of diced tomatoes and the jar of Mezzetta Napa Valley Homemade Marinara sauce. Bring to a boil and set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine one container of ricotta cheese, one package of thawed and drained chopped spinach, two cups of mozzerella cheese, 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, and two eggs. Mix together well.
4. In a 13×9 baking dish, spread about a cup and a half of the meat mixture on the bottom of the dish. Layer four lasagna noodles over the sauce. Top with half of the cheese mixture. Add half of the meat sauce on top of the cheese mixture. Repeat layering: lasagna, remaining cheese mixture and remaining meat mixture.
5. Top with the four remaining lasagna noodles. Spread the alfredo sauce evenly on the top layer. Sprinkle with shredded Parmesan cheese.
6. Cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
7. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
8. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.
I am thrilled to have found the Mezzetta Napa Valley Homemade sauces. They offer six different versions, but I’m loving the Marinara, especially for this recipe. It’s definitely my new favorite and new go-to.
Here’s a little more info about the brand:
- Real Food. 100% hand-selected plum tomatoes. No added sugar. No paste. No shortcuts.
- Real Farmers. Committed to farming the highest quality ingredients, without compromise.
- Real Family. Family owned and operated for over 80 years.
- Real Recipe. Made in the Italian tradition from our Napa Valley kitchen.
- Real Good. Pull up a plate and taste the difference.
And because Mezzetta is awesome, they are offering you a chance to win your very own Perfect Pasta Night kit AND a $500 grocery gift card. Be sure to enter HERE.
Prizes include:
• Grand Prize (1): Perfect Pasta Night. Cooking kit includes: Six (6) Mezzetta® Napa Valley Homemade™ Pasta Sauces + Dried Pasta + Apron + Grocery Tote + Chef’s Hat + Cheese Grater + Recipe Cards + $500 grocery gift card
• Runner Up Prizes (10): Six (6) Mezzetta® Napa Valley Homemade™ Pasta Sauces + Recipe Cards
All of the prizes are great, but how amazing would it be to win a $500 dollar grocery gift card? I hope you win! Good luck!
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this recipe with your family and friends. What’s your favorite comfort food?
FAQs
Lasagna. This Italian classic doesn't require as much explaining as the previous entry. Lasagna hits all the comfort food pleasure points: Pasta, meaty tomato sauce, melty cheese, a crisp layer of cheese on top, all coming together in a rich mouthful that will send you right to the couch after eating.
Is 2 layers of pasta enough in lasagna? ›
Betony Kitchen says you could make lasagna with as little as two layers for a quick lasagna that doesn't take long to bake. Many, however, would consider this skimping. Most recipes you'll find for lasagna call for a minimum of three layers, which seems to be the universal standard.
Does sauce go first in lasagna? ›
However you make lasagna, there is one rule you should always follow: Start with sauce. Whether you are using a baking dish or a skillet, there needs to be an even layer of sauce covering the entire bottom of the pan before any of the other ingredients are added.
How many does a 9x13 lasagna feed? ›
As a general rule of thumb, one 13x9 pan will yield 8 medium-sized portions. You can adjust the serving sizes to your family's appetite: if they have larger appetites, you cut the pan into 6 large portions, and if they have smaller appetites, you can cut the pan into 10 smaller portions.
What are the top five comfort foods? ›
Become a Jetsetter
- 1 Chicken and Waffles.
- 2 Spaghetti and Meatballs.
- 3 Chicken Fried Steak.
- 4 Mac and Cheese.
- 5 Hotdish.
- 6 Chicago Deep Dish Pizza.
- 7 Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup.
- 8 Matzo Ball Soup.
Lasagna may be a delicious Italian comfort food staple, but it's not a great choice if you're trying to manage your blood sugar. Since noodles are the primary ingredient in lasagna, this dish tends to be high in refined carbohydrates and low in fiber.
Should lasagna have a lot of sauce? ›
In fact, it's Neapolitan's saucy invention that is your secret weapon in combatting dry lasagna. Now, if your lasagna comes out of the oven a lacking moisture, there's no reason to panic. Real Simple recommends serving the dish with a side of extra marinara sauce.
What not to do when making lasagna? ›
Too much between one layer and another will keep you from ever getting a perfect slice. Too little and all you'll taste is pasta. Do not put large pieces of vegetables or meat in lasagna for the same reason as above. To get a perfect lasagna, the filling should be finely sliced or even creamy.
Do you put cheese on every layer of lasagna? ›
Depends on how you feel about cheese. Personally, I think lasagna should be a stretchy, gooey, cheesy mess, so I put cheese everywhere it will fit. Traditional lasagne are msde by layering pasta, ragú alla Bolognese, bechamel sauce and freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Each layer must be repeated at least 4 times.
Should lasagna sauce be thick or runny? ›
So, to achieve the perfect lasagna, the consistency of the sauce is absolutely essential. Both the ragù and béchamel sauce should be dense and creamy. Avoid sauces that are too liquid and slide to the bottom of the dish. A thicker consistency of the sauce will allow the pasta to be flavoured in the best possible way.
There's a lot of discussion around this topic in the lasagna recipe world, but generally most lasagna recipes start with a layer of red sauce, followed by a layer of white sauce, followed by a layer of pasta and cheese. Then you continue with this layering until you have completely filled your tray.
What sauce goes on the bottom of lasagna? ›
Yes. When you're making lasagna the first layer in the pan is that of sauce, then pasta, cheese and so on. That first layer of sauce hydrates the bottom layer of pasta. Without it, the lasagna sheets would never become tender, they'd harden from contact with the hot pan.
Do you bake lasagna at 350 or 375? ›
Assemble the lasagna in an oven-safe container and store it in the refrigerator. The temperature should be at or below 40 degrees. When you are ready to cook the lasagna, bake it in the oven for approximately 60 minutes at 375 degrees.
Do you bake lasagna covered or uncovered? ›
In an oven preheated to 375 degrees F, this homemade lasagna should be perfectly baked in about 50 minutes (30-40 minutes covered, 5-10 minutes uncovered).
Why is my lasagna runny? ›
The sauce could be too watery. The noodles can be holding on to water. The vegetables are releasing excess moisture. If you are using ricotta be careful of the moisture it can add.
What food category is lasagna? ›
lasagna, pasta dish of Italian origin, made with broad often ruffled noodles and a tomato or white sauce. Lasagna, in the singular, is a southern Italian variation of what northern Italians call lasagne, in the plural.
What qualifies as comfort food? ›
Comfort food is food that provides a nostalgic or sentimental value to someone and may be characterized by its high caloric nature associated with childhood or home cooking. The nostalgia may be specific to an individual or it may apply to a specific culture.
What counts as comfort food? ›
Fast food like burgers, French fries, and pizza. Homemade meals that your family makes like casseroles, fried chicken and biscuits, pasta, pot pie, and soothing soups and chowders like beef stew, matzo ball soup, and chicken soup. Snacks like chips, pretzels, popcorn, nachos, and munchies that curb snack attacks.
Is pasta a good comfort food? ›
The three most popular pasta dishes are macaroni and cheese, spaghetti Bolognese and lasagna. For centuries, pasta has been a comfort food.
