Meal Prep Freezer Lasagna

Name: Meal Prep Freezer Lasagna (Make-Ahead)
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 2 lbs ground beef; 1 medium yellow onion, diced; 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 1 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes; 1 box (16 oz) lasagna noodles; 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce; 1 tub (15 oz) ricotta cheese; 1 tub (16 oz) cottage cheese; 1 large egg; 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

This make-ahead freezer lasagna yields two large pans of seasoned ground beef, ricotta, and marinara—ideal for meal preppers who want ready-to-bake dinners on hand.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Lasagna 🏷️Meal prep 🏷️Freezer meal 🏷️Pasta Ground beef

🏷️

🏷️Ricotta

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cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Total

25 min

Servings

2

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by cookinginthemidwest

-0:00

cookinginthemidwestonTikTok

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakesoptional
1 box (16 oz) lasagna noodles
2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce
1 tub (15 oz) ricotta cheese
1 tub (16 oz) cottage cheese
1 large egg
16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese

12 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and diced onion.
2
Season the beef with ranch seasoning, oregano, paprika, and crushed red pepper flakes. Cook, breaking up the meat, until it is browned. Drain any excess grease.
3
While the meat is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
4
Stir the marinara sauce into the cooked ground beef to create the meat sauce. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
5
In a separate mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, and egg. Mix until well combined.
6
To assemble the lasagnas, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of two large aluminum baking pans.
7
Arrange a single layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce.
8
Spread a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles.
9
Sprinkle a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta.
10
Repeat the layers: meat sauce, noodles, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese, until the pans are full.
11
Finish with a final layer of meat sauce and a generous topping of shredded mozzarella cheese.
12
Cover the pans with lids, label with the date, and store in the freezer.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly and drain excess fat before mixing with seasonings to prevent a greasy lasagna.
Layer in order: sauce, noodles, cheese mixture, sauce, noodles, cheese. End with sauce on top to keep noodles from drying.
Use no-boil noodles to skip a step, or soak regular noodles briefly in warm water to soften before layering.
Wrap assembled lasagnas tightly in plastic wrap, then foil, to prevent freezer burn and maintain quality for up to 3 months.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or Italian sausage (adjusts flavor; sausage adds richness)
Marinara sauce → meat sauce or vodka sauce (changes depth; vodka sauce adds creaminess)
Ranch seasoning + oregano + paprika → 2 tsp Italian seasoning + 1 tsp garlic powder (simplifies spice blend)

Storage & make-ahead

Wrap completely cooled lasagna tightly in plastic wrap and foil; freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or bake from frozen at 375°F for 55–70 minutes, covered.

Common Questions

Can you freeze lasagna before baking?

Yes. Assemble the lasagna completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 25–30 minutes to the cooking time.

Should you thaw frozen lasagna before baking?

You can bake from frozen or thaw overnight in the refrigerator first. Thawing reduces baking time by about 15 minutes but either method works.

Can you substitute ricotta and cottage cheese?

You can use all ricotta or all cottage cheese, though the texture will differ slightly. A 1:1 swap works; cottage cheese yields a slightly thinner filling.

How do you reheat frozen lasagna?

Bake covered at 375°F for 55–70 minutes from frozen, or 35–40 minutes if thawed. Cover with foil to prevent drying and uncover the last 10 minutes to brown the top.