Trader Joe's Recipes

Trader Joe’s Lasagna Recipe

Trader Joe's Lasagna Recipe

This Trader Joe’s Lasagna is an easy and cheesy recipe, which is made with savory sausage, creamy ricotta cheese, and convenient no-boil noodles. It’s the perfect make-ahead meal, a crowd-pleasing comfort food classic that’s perfect for a family dinner.

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Trader Joe’s Lasagna Ingredients

A simple list of TJ’s favorites for a quick and delicious meal.

  • 1 lb. sausage (mild or hot Italian)
  • 2 (24 ounce) jars of your favorite pasta sauce (like Trader Joe’s Tomato Basil Marinara)
  • 1 (9 ounce) box no-boil lasagna noodles
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 large eggs
  • Parsley to garnish (optional)

How To Make Trader Joe’s Lasagna

A step-by-step guide to this incredibly easy and flavorful one-dish meal.

  1. Prep Oven and Cook Sausage: Preheat your oven to 375°F. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Make the Ricotta Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, the beaten eggs, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, and the Parmesan cheese. Mix well and set aside.
  3. Start Layering: Spread 1 cup of the pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles on top. Spread one-third of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles, then top with half of the browned sausage, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and 1 cup of pasta sauce.
  4. Continue Layering: Repeat the layers: 4 uncooked lasagna noodles, another third of the ricotta mixture, and 1 1/2 cups of sauce.
  5. Final Layer and Bake: Add another layer of noodles, the remaining ricotta mixture, the remaining sausage, and 1 cup of sauce. For the top layer, add the last of the noodles, the remaining sauce, and the final 1 cup of mozzarella.
  6. Bake and Rest: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 10-15 minutes, until all the cheese on top is melted and bubbly. It is crucial to let the lasagna stand for 20-30 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
Trader Joe's Lasagna Recipe
Trader Joe’s Lasagna Recipe

Recipe Tips

For the most delicious, perfectly set lasagna.

  • Why use no-boil noodles? This is the ultimate shortcut for easy lasagna! The noodles cook directly in the sauce in the oven, saving you the time and mess of boiling them first. They absorb the flavor of the sauce and are perfectly tender.
  • Can I make this ahead of time? Absolutely! As the recipe notes, this is a perfect make-ahead meal. You can assemble the entire casserole, cover it, and store it in the refrigerator for up to a day. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking, and add about 10-15 extra minutes to the initial covered baking time.
  • How to get a non-watery lasagna? Draining the grease from the sausage is a key step. Also, if your ricotta seems very wet, you can let it drain in a fine-mesh sieve for about 15-20 minutes before mixing it with the other ingredients.
  • Let it rest! This is the most important tip for a perfect slice of lasagna. Letting the hot, bubbly lasagna rest on the counter for at least 20 minutes before you cut into it is essential. This allows the layers to set up, so you get a clean slice instead of a soupy mess.

What To Serve With Lasagna

Classic sides to complete your Italian-style feast.

This hearty casserole is a complete meal on its own, but it pairs wonderfully with:

  • Warm, crusty garlic bread for mopping up the sauce
  • A simple green salad or a Caesar salad with a light vinaigrette
  • Steamed green beans or roasted broccoli
  • A glass of a robust Italian red wine, like a Chianti

How To Store Lasagna

This casserole makes for fantastic leftovers.

  • Refrigerate: Store any leftovers, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • Freeze: This casserole freezes beautifully, either before or after baking. Wrap the dish tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap and foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking or reheating.
  • Reheat: Reheat the casserole, covered with foil, in a 350°F oven for about 20-30 minutes, until heated through.

Trader Joe’s Lasagna Nutrition Facts

An estimated guide per serving.

  • Calories: 561kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 50g
  • Protein: 52g
  • Fat: 39g

Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Can I make this vegetarian?

Yes, this is easily adapted to be a vegetarian meal. Simply omit the sausage. For a hearty texture, you can sauté about 1 pound of sliced mushrooms and a chopped onion to stir into your pasta sauce instead.

Can I use a different kind of meat?

Yes. Lean ground beef, ground turkey, or a mix of beef and pork would all be delicious substitutes for the Italian sausage.

Why is there no sauce in the ricotta mixture?

This recipe keeps the layers distinct, with a creamy white cheese layer and a savory red meat sauce layer, which is a classic style. Some recipes do mix sauce with the ricotta.

Try More Recipes:

Trader Joe’s Lasagna Recipe

Recipe by LuluCourse: DinnerCuisine: Italian-AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

1

hour 

15

minutes
Calories

561

kcal

An incredibly easy and cheesy “dump-and-bake” style lasagna using no-boil noodles, a hearty sausage meat sauce, and a creamy three-cheese ricotta filling. The perfect make-ahead family dinner.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. sausage, browned

  • 1 (9 oz) box no-boil lasagna noodles

  • 2 (24 oz) jars pasta sauce

  • 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese

  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 eggs

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Brown the sausage in a skillet; drain the fat.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, beaten eggs, 2 cups of the mozzarella, and the Parmesan cheese.
  • Assemble in a 9×13-inch pan: Spread 1 cup of sauce. Layer with 4 noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, half the sausage, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1 cup sauce.
  • Repeat layers: 4 noodles, 1/3 ricotta, 1 1/2 cups sauce.
  • Next layer: 4 noodles, remaining ricotta, remaining sausage, 1 cup sauce.
  • Final layer: 4 noodles, remaining sauce, and the last 1 cup of mozzarella.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 50-60 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10-15 more minutes until the top is bubbly and golden.
  • Let the lasagna rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

  • Using no-boil noodles is the ultimate shortcut that makes this lasagna incredibly easy to assemble.
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  • This casserole is a perfect freezer meal; you can assemble it completely and freeze it before baking.
  • Letting the lasagna rest after baking is the most important secret to getting a clean, perfect slice that doesn’t fall apart.
  • Feel free to customize this by adding sautéed vegetables like mushrooms or spinach to your layers.

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