🍳DailyRecipes
Dinner

Lazy Meatball Lasagna

This cozy one dish dinner gives you all the cheesy goodness of lasagna without the hassle of boiling noodles or careful layering.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Italian American· August 19, 2026
Lazy Meatball Lasagna
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
10 minutes
Cook
50 minutes
Total
1 hour 10 minutes
Serves
8

If you love lasagna but dread the time it takes to build those perfect layers, this recipe is for you. It uses frozen meatballs and broken noodles to save you hours in the kitchen while still delivering that classic, comforting flavor your family craves.

Everything happens right in your baking dish, which means fewer bowls to wash after dinner. It is a fantastic option for those busy weeknights when you want a hearty meal on the table with almost zero effort.

Ingredients

  • 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
  • 1 container (15 ounces) whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 bag (25 ounces) frozen cooked meatballs
  • 6 to 8 uncooked regular lasagna noodles
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.

  2. 2

    Pour the marinara sauce into the baking dish. Add the water to the empty sauce jar, shake it to pick up the leftover sauce, and pour it into the dish.

  3. 3

    Add half of the ricotta cheese in dollops to the sauce. Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, along with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Stir well to combine.

  4. 4

    Break the dry lasagna noodles into pieces and stir them into the sauce mixture. Place the meatballs on top of the noodles.

  5. 5

    Dot the remaining ricotta around the meatballs and sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella over the top.

  6. 6

    Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the noodles are tender.

  7. 7

    Remove the foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes to let the top brown nicely.

  8. 8

    Let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes before serving so the sauce can settle.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. When serving, make sure to nestle the noodle pieces completely into the sauce so they soften properly while baking.

#easy dinner#comfort food#one dish#family meal

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