Meatball Lasagna

Name: Meatball Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 20 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Europe, Italian
Ingredients: 2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained; 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce; 1 cup water; 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 tablespoon dried basil; 4 teaspoons dried parsley flakes; 2 teaspoons sugar; Garlic salt to taste; 8 uncooked lasagna noodles; 2 packages (12 ounces each) frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs, thawed; 2 large egg; 1 cup ricotta cheese; 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese; 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Total Time Prep: 35 min. + standing Bake: 55 min.

Yield 8 servings

Test Kitchen Approved

Meatball lasagna is the ultimate comfort meal in a pan. This recipe uses store-bought meatballs to create a hearty and flavorful meat sauce layered with creamy ricotta, melty cheese and tender lasagna noodles.

Ingredients

2 cans (14-1/2 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 cup water
1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
1 medium onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon dried basil
4 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
2 teaspoons sugar
Garlic salt to taste
8 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 packages (12 ounces each) frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs, thawed
2 large egg
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine the first 10 ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions; drain.
Crumble meatballs; stir into sauce. In a small bowl, combine egg and ricotta cheese. Spoon 1 cup of the meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with half of the noodles, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat layers.
Cover and bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. If desired, top with additional Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 579 calories, 32g fat (16g saturated fat), 125mg cholesterol, 1238mg sodium, 42g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 5g fiber), 35g protein.

Addella Thomas of Mt. Sterling, Illinois crumbles leftover meatballs into the homemade spaghetti sauce she uses in this cheesy lasagna. "My family wants me to make this dish all the time. It goes over well at reunions, too," she adds.

Recipe Creator