Best Baked Lasagna In A Bun Recipes

LASAGNA IN A BUN

Steps:

• Make a 2-in.-wide V-shaped cut in the center of each bun to within an inches of the bottom. Remove cut portion and save for another use; set aside.
• In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the spaghetti sauce, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Cook 4-5 minutes or until heated through.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, Parmesan cheese and half of Cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. Spoon meat sauce into buns; top with cheese mixture. Place on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil.
• Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheddar and mozzarella. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes or until the cheese melts. Yield: 8 servings.

CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bechamel sauce:
• In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and, if desired, fennel seed; heat through., Drain noodles. Spread 1/4 cup meat sauce over each noodle; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Carefully roll up noodles and place seam side down in an 8-in. square baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. , Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

BAKED LASAGNA ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Add half the noodles, dropping each in separately, and cook, stirring gently, until pliable but still firm, about 4 minutes. Lift the noodles out of the water with a slotted spoon then lay them on a sheet of foil in a single layer, not touching. Lightly drizzle the noodles with 1 tablespoon olive oil then rub them all over to coat well. Repeat with the remaining noodles and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely soft and starting to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and garlic and cook, stirring until lightly caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf and 1 cup water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Carefully puree the sauce in a blender until smooth and return it to the pot. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Shred half of the mozzarella on the large holes of a box grater. Add it to a large bowl, along with the ricotta, Parmesan, basil, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt and the 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine. Divide the ricotta mixture among the noodles, putting 2 to 3 tablespoons in each, and spread into an even layer. Reserve the remaining piece of mozzarella.
• Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom. Cut each lasagna noodle in half lengthwise then roll each noodle strip into a pinwheel. Rotate the pinwheels so the frilly ends are on top, then transfer them to the prepared pan in a snug, even layer. Pour the remaining sauce over the noodles, using the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the top and into any gaps.
• Cover the pan with foil and bake until the noodles are tender and the lasagna is warmed through and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Tear the remaining mozzarella into pieces and scatter them over the noodles. Return the lasagna to the oven until the mozzarella is just melted, 5 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before unmolding. Carefully remove the sides of the pan, top with basil leaves and serve immediately.

BUNDT PAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 10-cup bundt pan with cooking spray. Line a baking sheet with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles to al dente according to the package directions. Drain the noodles and spread them flat on the prepared baking sheet to dry completely (you may need to create 2 to 3 layers to fit all of the noodles; put paper towels between each layer).
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the meat and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and onion and continue to cook until the onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the marinara sauce and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Wrap the spinach in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze until very dry. Combine the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, eggs and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
• Cut 3 of the noodles in half and set aside. Use the remaining 12 whole noodles to line the prepared bundt pan, laying them crosswise and overlapping like a fan, so that one end of each noodle goes up the center tube of the pan and the other end hangs over the edge. Spoon half of the spinach mixture into the bottom, then arrange half of the mozzarella slices on top. Drizzle 1 cup of sauce over everything, then top with the 6 reserved noodle halves so that they overlap. Repeat the layers with the remaining spinach mixture and mozzarella and another 1 cup sauce. Fold over the overhanging ends of the noodles to enclose the lasagna. If the noodles are a little too long and cover the hole of the pan, use kitchen scissors to trim them.
• Bake until the noodles on top are turning golden brown and starting to crisp up, 45 to 50 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes, then invert the pan onto a cutting board or serving platter to unmold the lasagna. Reheat the remaining sauce and pour into the center. Sprinkle with the parsley and a little Parmesan. Slice and serve.