Sausage Lasagna Recipe
Ahhhh, lasagna. Lasagna, lasagna, lasagana. I love the way that word rolls off the tongue. Nothing but warm fuzzy feelings could possibly fill your heart, upon hearing there’s going to be our best lasagna for dinner. Homemade lasagna has been a family favorite on both sides of our family for years. But I’ll never forget the first time I made it with a life-altering ingredient.
Homemade Lasagna with Cream Cheese
Right after Lt. Dan and I got married, we went to Indiana to visit his family. To make myself useful (and endearing) to my new mother-in-law, I offered to help prepare dinner every chance I got. Dan’s mom Sue, is an exceptional cook and I only hoped I wouldn’t do something silly and embarrass myself. One evening, homemade lasagna was on the menu. We prepared a thick hearty meat sauce and let it gently simmer on the stovetop. We boiled the noodles and laid them on clean tea towels. Then when it was time to assemble the lasagna, I looked in the fridge for the necessary cheeses but could not find ricotta. Sue informed me that their family didn’t use ricotta cheese in homemade lasagna. “Colliers use Cream Cheese.” Cream cheese in sausage lasagna? I couldn’t imagine lasagna without ricotta. That is until I tasted it. Fireworks. Clashing Cymbals. A Flavor Tidal Wave of Epic Proportion. All I could think was, “Thank God, I’m now a Collier.”
Ricotta vs. Cream Cheese Lasagna
Once you’ve added cream cheese to our best lasagna, there is no turning back to ricotta. This homemade lasagna recipe is essentially my mother-in-law’s recipe with three heaping layers of noodles, thick sausage-based meat sauce, and a 3 cheese blend. Sue taught me to mix mozzarella, parmesan, and silky cream cheese to create the perfect combination of salty goodness and creamy texture. This is a magnificent sausage lasagna recipe. Not to sound smug, but after tasting, you’ll be just as thankful as I am to have it. You may even want to change your last name to Collier. wink
Ingredients For Sausage Lasagna with Cream Cheese
Box of Lasagna Noodles Homemade Marinara or Store-Bought Tomato Sausage Italian Sausage – mild or spicy sausage Softened Cream Cheese Shredded Mozzarella Cheese Shredded Parmesan Cheese Italian Seasoning
How To Make Lasagna with Cream Cheese
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large saucepan, brown the sausage over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Once the meat is fully cooked, add and stir the marinara, then simmer for 10 minutes. Boil the noodles in a large pot of salty water, according to package instructions. Drain and remove the noodles and lay them out on a clean dish towel. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Smear 9-12 noodles with an equal portion of cream cheese. (The number of noodles used depends on the width of the pan.) Start assembling the lasagna: One large scoop of meat sauce on the bottom, 3-4 noodles across (cream cheese side up), 1/3 of the mozzarella, and parmesan. Repeat. After the third layer of noodles with cream cheese, pour the rest of the sauce over the noodles before adding the last layer of the mozzarella and parmesan. Sprinkle the top with Italian Seasoning. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes—until the cheese is toasty and the sides are bubbling. Wait at least 10 minutes before cutting. Lasagna (as well as many other favorite pasta dishes) is considered better on the second day. If making this ahead, Cover well, refrigerate, and bake for 40-50 minutes to heat through!
Get The Full (Printable) Homemade Sausage Lasagna Recipe with Cream Cheese Below. Enjoy!
Can You Make This Homemade Lasagna Recipe The Night Before?
Yes, wrap it well with plastic wrap/aluminum foil and store it in your fridge. The next morning, bake at 375 for 40 to 50 minutes. Only covered if you feel the cheese is starting to get too crisp.
Can I Substitute the Noodles for Zucchini?
Sure! I have a paleo lasagna where we do this. To use it as a reference click this link. You can also swap the pasta for gluten-free lasagna noodles.
Can I Use Ground Beef instead of Italian Sausage?
Swap away! Of course, it will lose a little flavor, because spicy italian sausage is loaded with herbs and spices, but will still taste wonderful.
What Size Box of Lasagna Noodles Do I Purchase?
A 12-ounce box will work but if you buy a 16-ounce box, go ahead and boil all the noodles and pick out the best ones.
Can I Use No-Boil Lasagna Noodles?
Yes, you can. I do prefer the texture of traditional lasagna noodles, but if you are in a hurry, layer no-boil noodles in this dish and add 1/3 cup water to the sauce, so there is plenty of moisture for the noodles to absorb.
Do I Use Any Other Spice Besides Italian Seasoning?
If you use the herb blend “Italian Seasoning” you can find at most grocery stores, it usually has all the herbs you need. It’s a mix of oregano, basil, rosemary, and marjoram. Or make your own Italian Seasoning from your spice rack!
Can I Use Any Tomato Sauce?
You could use a simple tomato sauce, but then the flavor of this dish would diminish greatly. Our homemade marinara recipe includes many ingredients like tomato sauce, garlic cloves, onion, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper to increase the flavor. If buying pre-made sauce, buy jarred marinara instead of plain tomato sauce.
More Comforting Pasta Dishes:
Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Sausage (No Boil Noodles) Hearts of Palm with Spinach Cream Sauce Baked Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Chicken Malfatti (Gnudi) Ricotta Dumplings Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta Creamy Baked Rigatoni Bolognese 8-Minute Japeguri (Easy Ram Don Korean Noodles) Green Risotto with Fresh Parsley Homemade Egg Noodles – Dine & Dish Pistachio Pasta ~ Kiran Tarun Squash and Spinach Stuffed Shells ~ Mommie Cooks
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