finding time for cooking

for the time-starved or curious culinary adventurer

  • Recipes By Type
    • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Goodies
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes & Veggies
    • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
    • Snacks
    • Full Recipe Index
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
    • Best Cocktail Gifts: For the At-Home Bartender or Mixologist
  • Whatcha Need??
    • Foods I’m Obsessed With
    • 30 Minutes or Less…for the Time-Challenged Cook
    • What Bread To Make (Based on Your Time)
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Super Healthy
    • Cooking for One
    • Soup
    • Unleavened Bread Recipes
  • About Me & More
    • Get In Touch!
    • How-Tos
    • Kitchen Tools I’m Obsessed With
    • Food and Travel—Two of My Favorite Things
    • Bunion Surgery Recovery Tips
    • Tips for Liver Detox / Gut Health Protocol

Mom’s Famous Lasagna

January 26, 2014

Lasagna is a very personal thing. In general, most people think their mom’s/grandma’s/wife’s/pick your relative’s lasagna is the absolute best thing in the world, and all other lasagnas are vastly inferior.

I certainly fall into this camp. I’m don’t think I even ate any other lasagna except my mom’s until I was…in college? And then I was so disappointed by it that it only reinforced my opinion.

The Best Lasagna Recipe | I think my mom's lasagna is the best ever, and it includes a couple of unorthodox ingredients. Super easy lasagna recipe, lasagna without ricotta (uses cottage cheese instead...see why!). This is my favorite lasagna in the world. #pasta #lasagna #dinnerrecipes #easydinner

I stand by that opinion, and have had friends reinforce it over the years. When I make this, I often get exclamations of “This is so good! It’s even better than my mom’s…though don’t tell her I said that!”

Mom's Lasagna finished closeup

This lasagna recipe is really easy to put together, and it gets its awesomeness from a couple ingredients that are outside the norm.

Instead of a homemade marinara or a jarred tomato sauce, it uses a specific Hunt’s canned four-cheese sauce, which gives it a special flavor. And rather than the traditional ricotta, it uses cottage cheese.

Yeah, I know it sounds weird. I think we started doing that when I was a kid and I didn’t like ricotta and my mom wasn’t too crazy about it either. But what we discovered is that the little curds in the cottage cheese end up melting and take this to a whole other level of gooeyness (instead of the graininess of ricotta).

mom's lasagna assembly

The result? Tangy, cheesy, fragrant, spice-filled awesomeness. I love it fresh out of the oven, with the steam still coming off it.

My dad loves it as leftovers, when the cheese and sauce have had a day or two to hang out and get married in the fridge. Either way, it’s out of this world. [My mom informs me that it was originally my Aunt Susan’s recipe that we tweaked over the years, so kudos to her as well!]

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Set a large pot of water to boil. When it boils, add a handful of salt, and nine lasagna noodles. As soon as they start to soften, push them down to where the whole noodle is in the water.

Cook the hamburger in a large pan (I recommend cast iron) and chop it up fine as it’s cooking. When no pink remains, add some salt, pepper, garlic (either powdered or fresh) and a few tablespoons of Italian seasoning.

mom's lasagna beef

Add the tomato sauce and cottage cheese, and carefully stir everything together. Turn the heat down to medium-low (or low, depending on your stove) and let the mixture simmer and the flavors come together.

mom's lasagna cottage cheese tomato sauce

mom's lasagna filling

Cook your pasta until it’s al dente (it will keep cooking a little bit in the oven) and turn the heat off.

mom's lasagna noodles cooking

To assemble, prep a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray (just in case) and spread a layer of the filling on the bottom.

mom's lasagna filling first layer

Lay three noodles along the length of the pan, spread more filling over the noodles, and sprinkle with mozzarella. I have silicone-tipped tons that I use to get the slippery noodles out of the water and into the pan.

mom's lasagna cheese first layer

Repeat this process for two more layers.

mom's lasagna noodles second layer

When you’re finished, sprinkle generously with mozzarella, and add a little shredded parmesan for good measure.

mom's lasagna assembled

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until it’s bubbling up the sides and the cheese on top is melted and starting to brown. Once you remove it from the oven, let it sit for 15 minutes so it can set up properly (otherwise it’ll be too liquidy).

Mom's Best Lasagna Ever baked

The Best Lasagna Recipe | I think my mom's lasagna is the best ever, and it includes a couple of unorthodox ingredients. Super easy lasagna recipe, lasagna without ricotta (uses cottage cheese instead...see why!). This is my favorite lasagna in the world. #pasta #lasagna #dinnerrecipes #easydinner

To me, this is best served fresh out of the oven, but the leftovers are amazing as well—some of my family thinks it’s actually better the second day (though I think they’re crazy).

Other baked pastas you’ll love:

  • Baked Whole Wheat Penne with Summer Veggies & Beef 
  • Mac & Cheese with Butternut Squash, Kale, & Chicken Sausage
  • Baked Pasta with Sausage, Broccolini, & Kale
  • Melty Cheesy Zucchini Baked Pasta

Mom’s Best Lasagna Ever

  • 9 lasagna noodles, uncooked
  • 1 pound of ground beef (lowest fat content possible)
  • Salt, pepper, garlic (fresh or powder), & Italian seasoning
  • 1 22-ounce (I think, the big one) can of Hunt’s 4-cheese tomato sauce
  • 1 24-ounce carton of small-curd cottage cheese
  • Around 4 cups (1 pound) of shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Shredded parmesan cheese for topping

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Set a large pot of water to boil. When it boils, add a handful of salt and the lasagna noodles. As soon as they start to soften, push them down to where the whole noodle is in the water. Cook until al dente, then turn off the water.

While the water is boiling, cook the hamburger in a large pan—I recommend cast iron. As it cooks, chop it up fine. When no pink remains, season with salt, pepper, garlic (either powdered or fresh) and a few tablespoons of Italian seasoning. 

Add the tomato sauce and cottage cheese, and carefully stir everything together. Turn the heat down to medium-low (or low, depending on your stove) and let the mixture simmer and the flavors come together while the pasta is cooking.

To assemble, prep a 9×13 pan with non-stick spray (just in case) and spread a layer of the filling on the bottom. Lay three noodles along the length of the pan, spread more filling over the noodles, and sprinkle with mozzarella. I have silicone-tipped tons that I use to get the slippery noodles out of the water and into the pan.

Repeat the process for the other two layers, and then sprinkle the top generously with mozzarella (and a little shredded parmesan if you want to get fancy).

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until it’s bubbling up the sides and the cheese on top is melted and starting to brown. Once you remove it from the oven, let it sit for 15 minutes so it can set up properly (otherwise it’ll be too liquidy).

Pin for later!

The Best Lasagna Recipe | I think my mom's lasagna is the best ever, and it includes a couple of unorthodox ingredients. Super easy lasagna recipe, lasagna without ricotta (uses cottage cheese instead...see why!). This is my favorite lasagna in the world. #pasta #lasagna #dinnerrecipes #easydinner

Leave a Comment CATEGORIES // Family Secret Recipes, Main Dishes, Pasta Recipes

« Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cake
Amazing, Fluffy Cream Biscuits »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! I created this blog for people who love cooking & baking but are challenged to find the time and energy to do it. Recipes run the gamut from super healthy to indulgent, but the focus is on using REAL food no matter what.

Follow Along!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Recent IG Adventures!

As someone who's never been the biggest fan of sto As someone who's never been the biggest fan of storebought hummus, I was stoked to find what I believe is the BEST homemade hummus recipe...with an easy extra step that's a great hack for getting it extra creamy! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#hummus #hummusrecipe #kitchenhacks
While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in o While I eagerly await warmer weather, I snuck in one last winter cocktail...here's some Sage Advice! It's a winter-y version of a whiskey sour bringing both cinnamon and sage, and then skirting the line of daiquiri with the substitution of lime juice for the traditional lemon. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking
#cocktailrecipe #bourbon #bourboncocktails #whiskeysour
Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cooki Forget your run-of-the-mill double chocolate cookies 🍫 These TRIPLE dark chocolate cookies (with a hint of whiskey & balance with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt) are rich indulgence without being sickly sweet. They're also soooo easy...no special tools, no dough chilling. Delish cookies in under 30 minutes! 

Tap the link in my IG bio & click on this photo to get the full recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#chocoholic #chocolatecookies #darkchocolate #cookierecipe
A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? A recipe that gets me to eat broccoli every day?? SOLD. And it is so fast & easy that it can barely be called a "recipe"...these cumin roasted broccoli bits in the air fryer (though you can use an oven instead) are crazy fast, healthy, & delicious!

Tap the link in my IG bio & pick this photo to see the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 
#airfryer #broccoli #easysidedish #airfryerrecipes
I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient browni I've been making these healthy 5-ingredient brownies on REPEAT for a couple months now. And knowing that they only take a few minutes to make has been a bit dangerous on random Tuesday nights when my sweet tooth strikes! 

Oh, and I forgot to mention that they're naturally gluten- & grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, and (optionally) no sweetener added? 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! --> @findingtimeforcooking 

#healthydessert #healthybrownies #glutenfreerecipes #vegandessert
This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic This cranberry snack cake is seriously my platonic ideal for a cake. I DREAM of this cake. A soft, moist, dense buttery vanilla cake batter is studded with tart fresh cranberries, with a tiny crunch of raw sugar on top. A perfect dessert or snack for pretty much any occasion...including with a cup of tea on a random Tuesday afternoon...

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe! 
--> @findingtimeforcooking 
#cranberrycake #cranberries #cranberryrecipe #bestdessert
These super easy marinated white beans are packed These super easy marinated white beans are packed with flavor & only take a few minutes to make! Even better?? They're best when made ahead of time (in 5 minutes!) and left for a day or two in the fridge for the flavors to really meld & intensify. 

This has become a go-to plant-based recipe, but I often throw some grilled salmon or chicken on top for a full meal. 

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this pic to get the recipe!
#veganrecipes #vegetarianrecipes #whitebeans #plantbasedrecipes
A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it A lot of people don't realize how easy & cheap it is to make your own kombucha at home...you can have an entire gallon for less than the cost of one bottle at the store! 

I can't even keep a bamboo plant alive, yet have managed to keep the same "scoby" starter healthy & active for well over a decade. 

Here are easy step-by-step instructions for making your own kombucha at home, & the tools you'll need to do so! Tap the link in my IG bio (@findingtimeforcooking) & click on this photo to see the whole post.
#homemadekombucha #kombuchabrewing #healthyguthappylife #scoby
I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying I'm not generally a soup person, though I'm trying to be more 🍜 But this Turkish corba (a spiced red lentil soup) has always been one of my exceptions.  It's CRAZY easy to make, full of veggies and the protein from the lentils, and just feels like a warm hug in a bowl!  A great vegetarian dinner idea, perfect on any detox protocol, and just a great cozy recipe for the winter months.

Tap the link in my IG bio & choose this photo to get the recipe!
#corba #redlentils #souprecipe #drcabraldetox
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

Rosemary Simple Syrup For Cocktails

Roasted Apricot & Honey Ice Cream

Pear Cake with Honey Glaze

Heirloom Tomato Risotto (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

Tomato, Spinach, & Roasted Garlic Pasta with Ricotta

Recent Posts

  • The Best, Creamiest Homemade Hummus (+ A Secret Ha…
  • Sage Advice: A Winter Bourbon Cocktail
  • Weekday Indulgence: Easy Triple Dark Chocolate Coo…

Categories

  • Appetizers, Dips, & Snacks
  • Bread Recipes
  • Breakfast Goodies
  • Cooking for One
  • Desserts
  • Drinks: Cocktails & More
  • Eating Out
  • Family Secret Recipes
  • Food-Related Miscellany
  • Foods I'm Obsessed With
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Go-To Recipes
  • How-Tos
  • Kitchen Gear
  • Main Dishes
  • Pasta Recipes
  • Recipe Experimentation
  • Sauces, Spices, & Other Basics
  • Side Dishes & Veggies
  • Snacks
  • Soup
  • Super Healthy
  • Travel and Food
  • Uncategorized

Privacy Policy & Disclosures

Copyright & Terms of Use

Copyright 2023 Finding Time For Cooking

8 shares