Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef or Italian Sausage
  • 1 medium Yellow Onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 40 fl oz High-Quality Jarred Marinara Sauce, divided
  • 1 tsp Dried Italian Seasoning
  • Salt and Black Pepper, To taste
  • 24 oz package Cheese Ravioli (frozen or refrigerated)
  • 2 cups Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese, shredded, divided
  • 1/2 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Basil or Parsley, chopped, for serving

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease the 9x13-inch baking dish.
  2. Brown the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground meat; cook until browned (about 5-7 minutes). Drain excess grease if necessary.
  3. Sauté Aromatics: Reduce heat to medium. Add diced onion and cook until softened (3 minutes). Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Build the Sauce: Pour in 36 oz (about 90%) of the jarred marinara sauce. Stir well. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
  5. First Sauce Layer: Spread approximately 1 cup of the prepared meat sauce evenly over the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  6. First Ravioli Layer: Arrange half of the frozen or refrigerated ravioli in a single, overlapping layer over the sauce.
  7. Cheese Layer: Spoon half of the remaining meat sauce evenly over the ravioli layer. Sprinkle generously with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Second Ravioli Layer: Place the remaining ravioli on top, again in a single, overlapping layer.
  9. Final Sauce and Cheese: Cover the ravioli with the remaining sauce. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
  10. Initial Bake (Covered): Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes.
  11. Final Bake (Uncovered): Remove the foil. Bake uncovered for another 10-12 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown and melted.
  12. The Crucial Rest: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it rest on the counter for 10 minutes. This allows the structure to set.
  13. Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley before slicing and serving. This quick casserole is the ultimate Lazy Lasagna with Cheese Ravioli.