Let’s be real—lasagna doesn’t have to be a three-hour kitchen marathon with 14 ingredients and five layers of stress. This Super Easy Lasagna is the hero of weeknight dinners. It’s a cheesy, meaty, pizza-flavored wonder that comes together with just five ingredients, no boiling noodles, and absolutely zero culinary degrees required.
Whether you’re feeding a crew of picky eaters, making something quick after work, or just craving a no-fuss comfort food classic, this super easy lasagna will save your night. And yes—it really does taste like hamburger pizza in lasagna form. Budget-friendly? Yup. Kid-approved? You bet. Ready in under an hour? Heck yes.
Let me show you how to make this simple lasagna dinner that’ll win over even the pickiest eaters.
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Ingredients for Super Easy Lasagna
You’ll only need a handful of ingredients to pull off this crowd-pleasing lasagna. No ricotta, no eggs, no homemade sauce—just the good stuff that gets the job done deliciously.
- 1 ½ lbs. ground beef – 80/20 is ideal, but lean works too
- ½ onion, diced – adds that savory base flavor
- 2 (24 oz.) jars of spaghetti sauce – use a good store-bought kind like Prego Traditional
- 5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – trust me, go big on the cheese
- 1 (9 oz.) box oven-ready lasagna noodles – no boiling needed
That’s it. Five ingredients for full lasagna flavor with way less effort.
Equipment Checklist
Before you start building your layers of cheesy, saucy magic, here’s what you’ll need:
No fancy tools, no gadgets, no pasta rollers—just basics from your kitchen.
How to Make Super Easy Lasagna (Step-by-Step)
This super easy lasagna recipe comes together in under 15 minutes of prep time. Perfect for nights when you’re juggling work emails, hungry kids, and the realization that you forgot to thaw anything.
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
Let your oven start heating while you prep everything. You want it hot and ready to go.
2. Brown the ground beef and onion.
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook your ground beef and diced onion together until the beef is fully browned and the onion is softened. Drain any excess fat so your lasagna doesn’t turn out greasy.
Pro tip: If you’re feeding a crowd that’s sensitive to onion, go light or even skip it.
3. Add the spaghetti sauce.
Pour both jars of sauce into the skillet with your cooked beef and onion. Stir it all together to create your meaty, saucy lasagna base.
This is where it starts to smell like home. And maybe a bit like a pizzeria.
4. Spread a cup of the meat sauce in your baking dish.
This helps the noodles soften and keeps them from sticking. No one likes a lasagna that’s fused to the pan.
5. Add your first layer of noodles.
Place oven-ready lasagna noodles in a single layer over the sauce. Don’t worry if they overlap a little or leave gaps—they’ll expand as they cook.
6. Add a layer of meat sauce.
Use half of the remaining meat sauce and spread it evenly over the noodles.
7. Sprinkle on half the mozzarella cheese.
Be generous. This is a cheesy lasagna recipe—don’t hold back.
8. Repeat the layers.
Noodles → meat sauce → cheese. That’s your final stack.
9. Cover with foil and bake.
Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place it in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
10. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and let the cheese get golden, bubbly, and slightly crispy around the edges. That’s the good stuff.
Why You’ll Love This Super Easy Lasagna
Let’s break down why this is a go-to family dinner lasagna:
- It’s super easy – Did we mention that already?
- Picky eater approved – It tastes like pizza. Enough said.
- Minimal cleanup – One skillet, one baking dish.
- Budget-friendly lasagna – Feeds 6 to 8 people on a tight grocery budget.
- Perfect for busy nights – Total time: 1 hour.
And if you love this one, you’ll definitely want to check out the easiest lasagna recipe ever for another fast and family-friendly meal.
Serving Suggestions
This comfort food pasta is hearty on its own, but here’s how to level up your dinner table:
- Garlic breadsticks or cheesy toast
- A crisp Caesar or garden salad
- Roasted vegetables (zucchini, bell peppers, or broccoli work great)
- Red pepper flakes or hot sauce for spice lovers
Looking for something cozy to serve alongside it? Pair your lasagna with this creamy Italian sausage soup for the ultimate meal.
Want More Than 5 Ingredients? Try These Variations
Once you’ve mastered the super easy lasagna, feel free to play around with upgrades:
- Add a layer of ricotta or cottage cheese for creaminess
- Swap ground beef for spicy Italian sausage
- Use a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and Parmesan
- Throw in chopped spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini between layers
- Top with Italian seasoning for an herbaceous kick
And when you’re craving more flavor bombs, this cheesy penne with garlic butter and ground beef is another comfort food favorite.
Make-Ahead, Freezing, and Leftover Tips
Want to meal prep? This easy baked pasta recipe is perfect for that.
Make-Ahead:
Assemble it the night before, cover, and refrigerate. Just add 10 extra minutes to the bake time when cooking from cold.
Freeze It:
Wrap tightly in foil and freeze unbaked or baked portions. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat Leftovers:
Microwave individual slices or warm the whole dish in a 350°F oven until hot.
Fun tip: Lasagna sandwiches. Just trust me.
And when you’re ready for something a little different, this creamy “Marry Me” chicken pasta is a great alternative to lasagna night.
Who Is This Super Easy Lasagna For?
This recipe is made for:
- Home cooks who want a simple win
- Busy parents who are tired of the “What’s for dinner?” stress
- Students with tiny kitchens and tight budgets
- Food enthusiasts who love comfort classics
- Picky eaters who want cheesy, familiar flavors
- Travelers or newlyweds cooking in unfamiliar kitchens
- Working professionals who need something filling and fast
- Baking enthusiasts who want a break from dessert
Want a heartier version? Try this traditional homemade lasagna recipe for a heartier version.
Or explore high-protein dinner recipes to go along with your lasagna rotation.
Print
Super Easy Lasagna
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6–8 servings
Description
A 5-ingredient, no-boil, pizza-flavored lasagna perfect for busy weeknights. Cheesy, meaty, and totally kid-approved.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 2 jars (24 oz.) spaghetti sauce
- 5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 box (9 oz.) oven-ready lasagna noodles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Brown beef and onion in a skillet.
- Add spaghetti sauce and stir.
- Spread 1 cup of sauce in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Layer noodles, half the meat mixture, and half the cheese.
- Repeat layers.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
Kid-approved, budget-friendly, and tastes like hamburger pizza. Perfect for weeknights. Make-ahead and freezer-friendly too.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Final Thoughts
If you’ve never made lasagna from scratch—or if you’ve only ever made the frozen kind—this Super Easy Lasagna will change your lasagna game forever. It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t ask much from you but gives a lot in return: flavor, comfort, and enough leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
Make it once, and you’ll keep the ingredients stocked forever. You’ll find yourself saying, “Oh yeah, I can whip up that lasagna” on the fly.
Give it a try this week—and let me know in the comments how it turned out. Did your kids love it? Did your roommate think you were a pasta genius? I want to hear about it!
And if you’re planning your next weeknight menu, Italian meatloaf makes another easy weeknight dinner idea with a twist.
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