Cheesy & Simple Paula Deen Lasagna Recipes for Comfort

Paula Deen’s lasagna represents the ultimate comfort food for hungry families seeking a satisfying meal.

Southern-style cooking meets classic Italian tradition in this mouthwatering casserole that promises warmth and deliciousness.

Robust meat sauce mingles with soft pasta layers, creating a harmonious blend of textures and flavors.

Home cooks appreciate its straightforward preparation and minimal ingredient requirements.

Cottage cheese adds unexpected creaminess to the traditional recipe, giving it a distinctive twist.

Hearty portions ensure everyone leaves the table feeling completely content.

Seasoned with love and southern hospitality, this lasagna transforms an ordinary dinner into a memorable gathering: Get ready to become the family’s favorite chef!

Why Paula Deen’s Lasagna Is a Family Favorite

• Layer Up Deliciousness: This lasagna creates incredible depth with multiple delectable layers that blend meats, cheeses, and rich tomato sauce into a mouthwatering masterpiece.
• Slow-Simmer Magic: The sauce develops intense flavors by simmering for 30-45 minutes, allowing herbs and spices to meld perfectly, creating a robust and complex taste profile.
• Comfort Food Champion: Perfect for family gatherings, weekend dinners, or when you need a hearty meal that delivers warmth, satisfaction, and nostalgic Italian-American culinary comfort.
• Crowd-Pleasing Technique: The step-by-step layering method ensures each bite contains a balanced combination of noodles, meat, cheese, and sauce, making it foolproof for home cooks of all skill levels.

Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Lasagna

• Ground Chuck, Italian Sausage: Hearty base for the sauce, choose ground meat with moderate fat content for rich flavor.
• Eggs: Binding agent for the cheese mixture, provides structure and richness.

• Cottage Cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Mozzarella Cheese: Creamy layers that add texture and classic lasagna taste, select fresh and high-quality cheeses for best results.

• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce, Tomato Paste: Creates robust and deep tomato flavor, look for ripe and good-quality canned tomato products.
• Onion, Garlic: Aromatic base that enhances overall sauce depth, choose fresh and firm vegetables.

• Oregano, Basil, Salt, Pepper: Essential Italian seasoning blend that provides traditional herb profile, use dried herbs for consistent flavor.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds brightness to cheese mixture.

• Lasagna Noodles: Structural component of the dish, no-boil or traditional noodles work well.

How to Make Paula Deen’s Lasagna

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F, getting ready for a delicious lasagna adventure.

Step 2: Brown the Meat Mix

• Ground chuck
• Italian sausage
• Chopped onion
• Minced garlic

Cook over medium heat until meat is fully browned. Drain excess fat completely.

Step 3: Create the Savory Sauce

• Oregano
• Basil
• Salt
• Pepper

• Diced tomatoes
• Tomato sauce
• Tomato paste

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, letting flavors develop.

Step 4: Prepare the Cheese Mixture

• Cottage cheese
• Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• Chopped parsley
• Beaten eggs

Mix until smooth and well combined.

Step 5: Layer the Lasagna

• Spread 1/4 of sauce on bottom
• Place 3 lasagna noodles (no overlapping)
• Spread 1/3 of cheese mixture
• Add 1/4 of sauce
• Sprinkle 1/3 of mozzarella

Repeat layers, ending with sauce and reserving some mozzarella.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 45 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella and bake 15 more minutes until cheese is hot and bubbly.

Step 7: Rest and Serve

Let lasagna rest for 10 minutes. This helps set the layers and makes serving easier. Enjoy your homemade masterpiece!

Pro Tips for Paula Deen’s Lasagna

• Garnish with Vibrant Herbs: Elevate your lasagna's appearance and taste by scattering freshly chopped parsley or basil on top right after baking.
• Allow Settling Time: Wait 10 minutes post-baking to let layers firm up, ensuring clean, picture-perfect slices that hold their shape.
• Opt for Convenient Noodles: Select oven-ready lasagna noodles that eliminate pre-boiling steps and cook perfectly within the sauce layers.
• Eliminate Excess Grease: Carefully drain cooked meat to prevent a soggy, fatty lasagna and maintain clean, distinct flavor profiles.
• Develop Robust Sauce Depth: Simmer your sauce for a minimum of 45 minutes, intensifying traditional Italian flavors and creating a more authentic dining experience.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Lasagna

• Freeze Whole Pan: Wrap the entire lasagna tightly in multiple layers of plastic wrap and heavy-duty aluminum foil to preserve maximum flavor and texture. Prevent freezer burn by removing as much air as possible before sealing. Lasagna maintains its delicious quality for up to 3 months when stored correctly.
• Individual Portion Storage: Slice cooled lasagna into single servings and wrap each portion separately in plastic wrap and foil. This smart method allows quick defrosting and reheating of exactly what you need without thawing the entire dish. Perfect for busy weeknights or quick lunch prep.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Transfer cooled lasagna to an airtight glass or plastic container with a secure lid to lock in moisture and prevent absorption of other refrigerator odors. Consume refrigerated lasagna within 3-4 days for optimal taste and food safety. Place container on a middle shelf to maintain consistent temperature.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Lasagna

• Veggie Fusion Lasagna: Replace ground meats with a colorful mix of roasted zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and mushrooms, creating a hearty vegetarian version packed with nutrients and flavor.
• Seafood Mediterranean Lasagna: Swap the ground meats with tender shrimp and crab meat, adding a splash of white wine and fresh herbs like dill and thyme for a coastal-inspired classic.
• Spicy Southwest Lasagna: Incorporate ground turkey, add green chiles, cumin, and chili powder to the sauce, then layer with pepper jack cheese and sprinkle cilantro on top for a zesty kick.
• Gluten-Free Lean Protein Lasagna: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles, replace cottage cheese with ricotta, and add ground chicken or lean ground beef for a lighter, diet-friendly alternative.

Final Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Lasagna

Paula Deen’s lasagna embodies comfort cuisine with its rich, layered complexity.

Hearty meat sauce intertwines with creamy cheese, creating Mediterranean-inspired magic on plate.

Meat blends perfectly with tomato-based goodness, ensuring maximum flavor impact.

Italian culinary traditions shine through each meticulously constructed layer.

Cheese melts into luxurious ribbons, promising sensory delight with every forkful.

Passionate cooks and casual dinner hosts will fall in love with this classic recipe that guarantees smiles, seconds, and social media worthy snapshots – go ahead, share this masterpiece, comment with your lasagna experiences, and spread deliciousness everywhere!

Paula Deen Lasagna Recipe

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4.9 from 14 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Paula Deen’s lasagna embodies Southern comfort with layers of rich beef, creamy cheeses, and hearty tomato sauce. Melted mozzarella and a perfectly seasoned meat blend promise a delightful Italian-American classic you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Meats and Proteins:

• 1 ½ pounds (0.68 kilograms) ground chuck
• 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) ground Italian sausage
• 2 large lightly beaten eggs

Cheeses:

• 1 ½ cups small curd cottage cheese
• 1 (5 ounces/142 grams) package grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 2 (8 ounces/227 grams) packages shredded mozzarella cheese

Other Ingredients:

• 1 onion
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground basil
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1 (14.5 ounces/411 grams) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano
• 2 (15 ounces/425 grams) cans tomato sauce
• 1 (6 ounces/170 grams) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 9 oven ready lasagna noodles

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C), ensuring the rack is positioned in the middle for even heating.
2. In a spacious skillet, brown the ground chuck and Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking the meat into fine crumbles. Add finely chopped onions and minced garlic, cooking until the vegetables become translucent and fragrant.
3. Drain excess grease thoroughly using a colander, then return the meat mixture to the pan.
4. Enhance the meat sauce with dried oregano, fresh basil, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Pour in diced tomatoes, rich tomato sauce, and concentrated tomato paste.
5. Bring the sauce to a robust simmer, then reduce heat and let it gently bubble for 35-40 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and concentrate.
6. Prepare the cheese mixture by whisking cottage cheese, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, chopped fresh parsley, and beaten eggs until smooth and well-incorporated.
7. Coat the bottom of a 13 x 9 x 2-inch (33 x 23 x 5 cm) baking dish with a thin layer of meat sauce.
8. Arrange lasagna noodles in a single layer, carefully avoiding overlap, creating a solid foundation for subsequent layers.
9. Spread one-third of the cheese mixture evenly over the noodles, followed by a generous portion of meat sauce and one-third of the shredded mozzarella.
10. Repeat layering process twice, ensuring each layer is distributed evenly and the top is covered with sauce.
11. Reserve the final third of mozzarella for the final topping.
12. Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
13. Remove foil, sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top, and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
14. Allow the lasagna to rest for 12-15 minutes, enabling the layers to set and making cutting and serving easier.

Notes

• Simmering sauce intensifies the depth of homemade lasagna, transforming ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience.
• Removing excess meat fat prevents soggy layers, ensuring each bite stays perfectly structured and deliciously balanced.
• No-boil pasta sheets dramatically reduce kitchen time while maintaining ideal texture and absorbing sauce beautifully.
• Allowing lasagna to rest creates clean, precise slices that hold together elegantly when served.
• Garnishing with fresh herbs adds vibrant color and bright, aromatic notes to your finished masterpiece.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 500
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Fat: 30g
• Saturated Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 3g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 120mg