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Warm up with this cozy and comforting Dutch oven lasagna. The rich flavors of the meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and gooey cheese will leave you craving more.
There’s nothing quite like a piping hot lasagna after a day of conquering the outdoors! The aroma alone gets the whole family racing to the table, ready to dive into this hearty, comforting dish.
Pair it with some crusty bread slathered in butter, and oh my, is it delicious! And by crusty bread, I mean my whole grain artisan bread recipe!
I think my favorite part of this recipe is I use a no-boil technique (hello, less mess!), and it can be prepped ahead of time for effortless entertaining.
Between this, our carne pizzaiola, and stovetop meatball recipes, weeknight dinners are a popular sight in our home.
The cheesy layering of noodles, sauce, cheese, and herbs in this dish will have everyone coming back for more.
And if you still have zucchini in your garden, be sure to try my zucchini lasagna recipe next!
Table of Contents
What goes into this recipe
- Ground Beef: We’ll use this to create a hearty and flavorful meat sauce base. If you’re looking to lighten things up, feel free to use ground turkey or chicken!
- Spices: Salt, pepper, and garlic powder are my go-to spices. Don’t be shy with these!
- Onion: This adds a touch of sweetness and savory depth to the sauce. Feel free to get creative with other veggies like chopped mushrooms, peppers, or zucchini!
- Parmesan Cheese: Is it really lasagna without parmesan?
- Pasta Sauce: I’m using two jars of my favorite pasta sauce for a quick and flavorful base. Feel free to experiment with different flavors like creamy tomato or veggie-packed options!
- Lasagna Noodles: No-boil noodles are a lifesaver! They cook perfectly nestled in the sauce, saving precious time and keeping things mess-free.
For the cheese filling
- Ricotta Cheese: This creamy cheese forms the base of our cheesy filling, adding a delightful richness. Cottage cheese can be used as a lighter substitute!
- Mozzarella Cheese: Fresh mozzarella adds that classic gooey goodness we all love in lasagna. Reserve some for sprinkling on top for a beautiful browned crust.
- Eggs: These help bind our ricotta cheese filling, creating a smooth and creamy texture.
- Parsley: Freshly chopped parsley adds a vibrant pop of color and a touch of freshness to the filling. You can also use other herbs like basil or oregano!
- Salt & Pepper: A final pinch of each to taste in the filling will help all the flavors come alive!
Dutch oven lasagna recipe
Step 1: Combine the cheese-filling ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Step 2: Brown the meat with the onions and seasonings and drain off any extra grease.
Step 3: Assemble the layers in a 7 qt dutch oven, starting with a thin layer of pasta sauce, followed by the noodles.
Step 4: Then add your layer of meat, followed by the ricotta mixture. Repeat until you run out of layers.
Step 5: Top with the parmesan and a little mozzarella before covering and baking at 375°F for an hour & 15 minutes, removing the lid for the last 15 minutes.
Step 6: Let it sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Expert tips
- Make sure to dot layers of ricotta mixture throughout the dish. The cheese will add a lovely creaminess and delicious flavor when it melts into the tomato sauce.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Finally, top your lasagna with some fresh herbs like basil and oregano for an herbal aroma and color pop. Enjoy!
Lasagna layering quick chart:
- First, a thin layer of pasta sauce.
- Second, a layer of lasagna noodles. They may also be labeled “no boil or regular. Both will work, and neither will need to be boiled ahead of time.
- Third, some of the cooked meat mixture: one-third or one-quarter of your mixture, depending on the number of noodle layers you will have.
- Fourth, some of the ricotta mixture, as above.
- Repeat until you run out of layers.
- Finally, top with the parmesan and remaining mozzarella.
- To add some heat to your lasagna, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes or a few dashes of hot sauce. Get creative and have fun!
Serving suggestions
To complete your Dutch oven lasagna experience, it is important to pair it with the perfect side dish. Consider a leafy green salad and crusty loaf.
Our family loves lasagna with a rustic artisan bread. You can find the recipe here, which, of course, involves a dutch oven!
Not only will these sides add an extra layer of flavor and texture, but they’ll also make your meal complete.
You can even experiment with different kinds of meat like we do with our venison pasta recipe.
Related recipes
- Dutch oven pizza
- Cajun roasted chicken
- Dutch oven goulash
- Slow-cooked beef ribs
- Polish sauerkraut soup
If you tried this Dutch Oven Lasagna Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Dutch Oven Lasagna
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of ground beef
- ½ tbsp of salt
- 1 tsp of ground pepper
- 1 tsp of garlic powder
- 1 onion diced
- 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
- 2 jars of pasta sauce
- 1 box of lasagna noodles
Cheese filling
- 32 oz of ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces of mozzarella plus about 1/4 cup for topping
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup of fresh chopped parsley
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the meat with the onions and seasonings.
- Drain off any excess grease.
- Combine the cheese-filling ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Assemble the layers in a 7 qt dutch oven, starting with a thin layer of pasta sauce, then noodles, meat, ricotta mixture, and repeat until you run out of layers.
- Top with the parmesan and a little mozzarella before covering and baking at 375°F for an hour & 15 minutes, removing the lid for the last 15 minutes.
- Let it sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Make sure to dot layers of ricotta mixture throughout the dish. The cheese will add a lovely creaminess and delicious flavor when it melts into the tomato sauce.
- Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Finally, top your lasagna with some fresh herbs like basil and oregano for an herbal aroma and color pop. Enjoy!
I just made this again last night! It was so delicious as always!
I have made this a few times now and it is a favorite in our house.
That’s fantastic to hear! So glad your family loves the lasagna recipe. It’s one of my favorites too!
I was just gifted a dutch oven and this was the first recipe I tried. This was the absolute best lasagna I have ever made or eaten!! This will be my go to recipe! I was skeptical of not cooking noodles first, but it totally worked! Thanks for sharing!
You are so welcome. Thanks for sharing!
Do u boil the lasagna first ?
The noodles do not need to be boiled ahead of time.
Just add them dry!
Do I need to boil the noddles before? I’m not using the no boil ones
I actually have made this with the no boil noodles and it seems to workout just fine!