Quick Easy No Boil & No Bake Lasagna Recipes to Make

As you know, cooking is one of my favorite hobbies, so I spend a lot of time researching and testing easy and delicious meals that take all the fuss out of the process without sacrifincing flavor. Sure, researching and sharing recipes can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s so worth it, and I love hearing when you all find one of my recipes at the top of your list. When I was thinking about my favorite go to recipes when I need a hearty fast dinner I knew I had to share this round up of no boil & no bake lasagna recipes.

Here’s the thing. Lasagna is a great dish to learn how to make. You can prepare it for a “regular” meal for guests – either lunch or dinner or even include it alongside your favorite holiday recipes for the festivities. The leftovers can feed our family for days. So let’s dive into my easy three favorite no boil & no back lasagna recipes. No boiling pasta is required!

My Recipe Collection

It might not be the “traditional” method, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a bunch of no bake lasagna recipes online. Of course, not all of them are great or shareworthy. The ones you’ll see below have been handpicked by yours truly so you can trust that they’re good.

I don’t believe in sharing recipes I haven’t tried yet, but I’ve had a lot of success with these three. Each one brings something a bit different to the table so be sure to compare recipes to find the one that’s perfect for your next meal.

Starting off strong, we have this recipe for…

Simple No-Boil Lasagna

If you’re looking for a simple no boil lasagna recipe then this is the one for you, as this recipe takes less than ten steps. Even better, it only requires six ingredients, although you can certainly switch things up once you feel comfortable with the base recipe.

While you won’t need to boil lasagna noodles for this recipe, you’ll still need a few kitchen essentials to prepare the ingredients. Make sure you have these on hand before you begin. If you’re in need of an upgrade, check out this kitchenware set I really like.

Ingredients & Items:

• 12 x 9 baking dish
• Bolognese sauce (6 cups)
• No-boil lasagna noodles (1-2 boxes)
• Shredded mozzarella (16 oz.)
• Parmesan cheese
• Ricotta cheese (15 oz.)
• Cream (or half & half)
• Tin foil

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. To start, preheat your oven to 375°. You’ll also want to grab your 12 x 9 baking dish.
2. Begin the first layer of your lasagna. Spread about a cup of your Bolognese tomato sauce evenly on the bottom of your baking dish. Then lay lasagna sheets on top of the sauce, covering the pasta sauce to completion to finish the first layer.
3. For the second layer, you’ll repeat the same process with the sauce. Once the first layer of noodles has been covered with sauce, cover the sauce with a shredded Mozzarella layer. You can sprinkle your Parmesan cheese on top of the Mozzarella layer.
4. Next, cover the layer of cheese with more noodles. Cover the noodles with another layer of sauce, then spread your ricotta cheese on the sauce. Tap it down with a spoon to flatten it. Add a few more tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on top.
5. For the last layer, you’ll again cover the previous layers with a layer of noodles. After this, add another layer of sauce then top this with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
6. Remember your cream! Drizzle your cream on top of the lasagna, then cover the lasagna with tin foil and bake it for 35 to 40 minutes.
7. After this time period has passed, you can remove the lasagna from the oven. Take the foil off then place the lasagna back in the oven. After 5 to 8 minutes, the cheese should be melted and bubbling around the edges.
8. At this point, you can remove the lasagna from the oven. Wait ten to fifteen minutes before cutting, serving, and enjoying!

Want something for after you finish your lasagna? Check out my post on these tasty desserts!

No-Boil Noodle Lasagna Recipe

Not interested in no bake lasagna recipes, but the first recipe just wasn’t for you? No worries – I have another amazing recommendation for you! You won’t need to boil noodles for this one either, but it is a bit more complex.

Of course, with increased complexity comes a much more delectable flavor profile, so it’s certainly worth the extra effort. As before, I recommend reading through the recipe and getting everything ready before starting.

Ingredients & Items:

Sauce

• Large saucepan
• Ground beef (2 lbs.)
• Olive oil (1 tbsp.)
• Minced garlic (1½ tsp.)
• Finely diced onion (½ cup)
• Crushed tomatoes (28 oz., canned)
• Tomato paste (12 oz., canned)
• Tomato sauce (15 oz., canned)
• One cup of water
• White sugar (2 tbsp.)
• Dried bay leaves (2)
• Italian seasoning (2 tsp.)
• Dried parsley (1 tsp.)
• Salt (1 tsp.)
• Black pepper (½ tsp.)

Cheese Mixture

• Ricotta cheese (16 oz.)
• Large egg (1)
• Grated Parmesan cheese (¼  cup)
• 9 x 13 casserole dish

Lasagna Layers

• Lasagna noodles (1 box)
• Shredded mozzarella (1 lbs.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. First, you’ll start making the sauce. Begin by browning ground beef in a saucepan. Drain the pan, then add olive oil (1 tbsp.) to the pan. Sauté your garlic and onion in the pan, then add the ground beef back into the pan. Add the other spaghetti sauce ingredients to the pan as well. Cover and simmer for 90 minutes
2. After an hour, you can start softening the noodles. Doing this is pretty easy. Just fill a large bowl or baking pan with uncooked noodles, then fill the bowl/pan with hot water from the tap. Leave the noodles to sit in the water until they’re al dente. You can make the cheese mixture while you wait.
3. Making the ricotta mixture is simple. Take the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and egg. Place it in a small bowl and whisk until you have a well-blended ricotta cheese mixture. Remove your sauce from the heat before moving on to the next step, as it should be done simmering. Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 350°F.
4. Start layering your noodles in the bottom of the baking dish. Once the first layer is complete, add a layer of meat sauce on top. From here, add a bit of the ricotta mixture, using a spoon to smooth it out. Sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top of this.
5. Repeat this process until the pan is full. Make sure that the top layer is meat sauce, topped with lots of mozzarella cheese for the perfect presentation!
6. Alright, baking time. Cover the dish with aluminum foil, then put it in your preheated oven for 45-60 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven, take off the foil, then place it back in the oven for an additional 15 minutes to complete the cooking process.

Hosting an event and want a lot of different foods for your guests? Check out my fried foods for ideas and inspiration!

Chicken No-Bake Lasagna

Last but not least is this no bake lasagna recipe. Unlike the previous recipes, this one is better suited for personal meals or for smaller families. Since you’ll be cooking everything in a skillet, you’re somewhat limited on how much you can make at a time.

Still, I think this alternative to using the oven is great, especially if you need fresh food fast. Grab yourself a food processor, a large skillet, a bowl, and a skillet cover then let’s get started.

Ingredients & Items:

• Grated Parmesan cheese (½ cup)
• Ricotta cheese (8 oz.)
• Yellow onion (1, small)
• Garlic (3 cloves)
• Basil (15-20 leaves)
• Lasagna noodles (8 oz.)
• Pot
• Salt (1 tsp.)
• Large skillet
• Olive oil (1 tsp.)
• Ground white meat chicken (1 lb.)
• Salt (1 tbsp.)
• Black pepper (1 tsp.)
• Whole peeled tomatoes (canned, 28 oz.)
• Tomato paste ( 2 tbsp.)
• Dried oregano (1 tsp.)
• Sliced mozzarella cheese (6 oz., fresh)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Start by cooking the noodles.  Boil a pot of water, then place your uncooked lasagna noodles in the boiling water alongside 1 tbsp. of salt. Cook and stir for ten minutes. When done, remove the noodles but save one cup of noodle water for later.
2. While the noodles are cooking, you can preheat your skillet to medium-high heat. Add olive oil and ground chicken to your skillet. Break and layer the chicken into a layer before seasoning it with salt and pepper. Cook this for five minutes.
3. Next, grab your veggies and meats. Peel the onion and cut it into quarters, then peel the garlic. Add both to your food processor and blend until you have tiny pieces the size of sushi rice. Then add your basil, pulsing the food processor to chop the leaves. Once done, stir this mixture in with the chicken and cook for five more minutes.
4. Now, it’s time for tomatoes. Add your tomatoes, tomato paste, ½ cup of pasta water, salt, and dried oregano to the chicken. Break the tomatoes apart using a spatula then bring the entire thing up to a simmer. Cook for five minutes.
5. Drain your lasagna noodles. Rinse them with cold water, then add half of the noodles to your sauce.
6. Grab a medium bowl. Mix Parmesan cheese with ricotta cheese, then spread this mixture on top of the noodles in the pan. Layer the remaining noodles on top of the ricotta mixture.
7. Finally, top the noodles with mozzarella. From here, cover the pan with the skillet dome cover for five minutes. This will melt the cheese into a visually appealing golden brown. After five minutes, let your lasagna rest for five minutes. While you’re at it, grab your finest plates for this treat. Scoop, plate, and garnish with the basil and Parmesan if desired.

If properly stored, you can always reheat this lasagna and have it as a meal the next day. But what if you’re looking for something a bit sweeter? Well, then, you’ll want to check out my favorite breakfast treats!

No Bake Lasagna: Wrapup

Whether you’re looking for no boil or no bake lasagna recipes, I’m sure you’ve found a great recipe from the options above. The best part about these recipes? They can be easily modified, meaning you can add Italian sausage, spinach, peppers, or whatever else you might want to make the best lasagna possible.

I hope you found these recipes helpful. If nothing else, they’re a great starting point, perfect for feeding hungry guests in the living room and family dinners alike. Do you have any favorite lasagna recipes you like? If so, I’d love to hear about them. I’m always on the hunt for new recipes.

Well, that’s everything I have for you guys today. Don’t worry, though, as I’ll be back soon with more fun things to share. Until next time, have a great week, and—as always—thanks for reading!

Check out this book if you’re in the mood for a few more pasta recipes!

FAQs About No Bake Lasagna

How do no bake lasagna noodles work?

No bake noodles are popular for easy Italian-inspired recipes, but they’re not quite like regular lasagna noodles. These noodles are pre-cooked and thinner than the regular variety, allowing them to absorb moisture during the cooking process.

Can you use regular lasagna noodles for no boil?

Yes, but it depends entirely on the recipe. I would start with the recipe as written and then adjust from there.

Why are my no cook lasagna noodles hard?

While too much cooking time can definitely be a factor, chances are, your noodles just didn’t get enough moisture! You can usually overcome this by adding more moisture in the recipe (such as in the sauce) or by soaking the noodles beforehand.

Which is better for lasagna cottage or ricotta?

It depends entirely on what you’re after. Prefer rich, creamy goodness? Ricotta is perfect for that. Alternatively, if you’d prefer a lighter dish then cottage cheese is probably best.

How many layers should a lasagna have?

There’s no set limit, but you want to aim for at least four layers minimum. Supposedly, the average lasagna has eight layers, but you can even go for more on special occasions.

Does authentic lasagna have ricotta?

While the delicious lasagna you make might use ricotta, no, “authentic” lasagna actually doesn’t contain ricotta. If you’re after a more traditional lasagna recipe then you’ll want to substitute ricotta for Bechamel sauce the next time you head to the grocery store.