If you love the cozy comfort of lasagna but crave a shortcut, this Ravioli Lasagna is about to become your new weeknight hero! It layers pillowy cheese ravioli, hearty sausage, a trio of melting cheeses, and robust marinara in the easiest, cheesiest baked casserole ever—pure comfort, no pasta boiling required.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Maximum Flavor, Zero Fuss: The magic of frozen ravioli means you skip the noodles and ricotta assembly, but get all the authentic lasagna flavor.
- Family-Style Comfort: This Ravioli Lasagna is cozy, filling, and makes enough to feed a crowd—sharing seconds is basically required!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Assemble it hours in advance or even freeze it for later, then just bake and serve bubbling-hot when you’re ready.
- Adaptable to Your Pantry: Whether you want to swap in veggies, use different ravioli, or make it meatless, you’re the boss of this lasagna.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in Ravioli Lasagna has a starring role—together they create layers of savory, melty, and gooey comfort. Don’t be intimidated by the list; every item is a building block for huge flavor, and there’s plenty of room for your own personal tweaks along the way.
- Italian sausage: Adds heartiness and a little kick—choose sweet or spicy according to your family’s tastes.
- White onion: Sautéed with the sausage, it creates irresistible savory depth in the sauce base.
- Garlic cloves: Four big cloves, because lasagna without garlic just isn’t as soulful.
- Marinara sauce: Go for good-quality jars—this is the backbone of the dish, so let your favorite shine.
- Frozen ravioli: The ultimate timesaver—and the cheesy filling means you skip half the work!
- Ricotta cheese: Creamy, dreamy texture that adds that signature lasagna richness between layers.
- Mozzarella cheese: This is what gets gorgeously melty and browned on top, so don’t skimp!
- Parmesan cheese and basil (for topping): A final flourish for brightness, sharpness, and restaurant-level wow.
Variations
Ravioli Lasagna is wildly adaptable—once you know the method, you can mix-and-match ingredients to match whatever you have on hand, or fit your dietary needs. Make it your own, and don’t be afraid to get creative!
- Veggie Power: Swap the sausage for sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini for a vegetarian twist that’s just as satisfying.
- Cheese Lover’s Dream: Use a blend of Italian cheeses (think provolone, fontina, or asiago) for extra gooey decadence.
- Spicy Kick: Try hot Italian sausage, or add crushed red pepper flakes to the marinara for a little heat in every bite.
- Ravioli Remix: Try spinach-ricotta, mushroom, or even beef-filled ravioli for a new flavor spin every time.
How to Make Ravioli Lasagna
Step 1: Prep Your Oven & Pan
Start off by setting your oven to 400°F, giving it plenty of time to get nice and hot. Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with a spritz of cooking spray—this step keeps the cheesy goodness from sticking later, making serving and cleanup a breeze.
Step 2: Brown the Sausage
In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, cook your ground Italian sausage until it’s brown and crumbly. Take a moment to break up the meat as you go so you get savory sausage in every bite. Once browned, scoop the sausage out with a slotted spoon and set it aside—you’ll need it again soon!
Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics & Build the Sauce
Spoon off all but about a tablespoon of the sausage drippings (this is liquid gold for flavor!). Toss in your diced onion and minced garlic, and cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and fragrant. Pour in your marinara sauce and the reserved sausage, stirring until everything is happily mingling. Once combined, turn off the heat.
Step 4: Layer the Ravioli Lasagna
Spoon about a cup of your sausage marinara sauce into the bottom of your prepared baking dish and spread it evenly. Now comes the fun: Layer half the ravioli on top (no need to thaw!), dollop over all the ricotta, sprinkle with half your mozzarella, then pour over half the remaining meat sauce. Repeat with the second package of ravioli, the rest of the sauce, and finish with a generous blanket of the remaining mozzarella.
Step 5: Bake Until Bubbling & Golden
Cover the pan loosely with foil (try not to let it touch the extra cheese), then bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil, bake for 10 minutes more, and then switch on your broiler for a final 2–3 minutes to create a bubbly, golden-brown crown. The aroma? Irresistible!
Step 6: Garnish & Enjoy!
Shower your piping-hot Ravioli Lasagna with extra Parmesan and a scattering of fresh basil. Serve immediately so everyone gets gooey, melty cheese in every forkful. Comfort food never tasted so easy—or so good!
Pro Tips for Making Ravioli Lasagna
- Choose Your Ravioli Wisely: Cheese-filled ravioli is a classic, but don’t hesitate to experiment with spinach, mushroom, or even meat ravioli for a different personality.
- Don’t Thaw the Ravioli: Layer them straight from frozen—thawing can make them mushy, but direct-to-oven yields perfect layers with just the right bite!
- Broil for Extra Browned Cheese: Keep a close eye during broiling—the top can go from golden to scorched fast, but that perfect bronzed mozzarella makes all the difference.
- Let It Rest Before Serving: Give your lasagna 10 minutes to settle out of the oven so the slices hold together beautifully when served.
How to Serve Ravioli Lasagna
Garnishes
A generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan and a flurry of chopped basil on top adds brightness, a bit of salty punch, and restaurant-worthy flair. For an extra flourish, add a drizzle of good olive oil or a pinch of red pepper flakes right before serving!
Side Dishes
This Ravioli Lasagna absolutely loves a fresh, crisp green salad on the side—think arugula with lemon, or classic Caesar for extra crunch. Garlic bread, focaccia, or even a simple toasted baguette are perfect for scooping up stray sauce and melty cheese.
Creative Ways to Present
Think beyond the casserole: cut the lasagna into neat squares and stack them in individual ramekins for dinner parties, or serve family-style straight from the oven-to-table baking dish for that “just like Nonna’s kitchen” feel. Add a sprig of basil and you’re instantly dinner-party ready!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Ravioli Lasagna stores beautifully in the fridge for up to 4 days—just cover the baking dish with foil or transfer individual portions to airtight containers. The flavors settle and meld, sometimes making day-two lasagna even tastier!
Freezing
This dish is practically designed for the freezer. Assemble, cover tightly with foil, and freeze unbaked for up to 3 months. When ready, bake straight from frozen (just add an extra 20-30 minutes to the covered bake time). You can also freeze baked leftovers in portions for easy weeknight meals.
Reheating
For best results, reheat leftover slices in a 350°F oven—keep them covered so they don’t dry out, and uncover for a couple minutes at the end for a melty, bubbly finish. Individual servings can also be microwaved for a speedy lunch or late-night bite!
FAQs
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Can I use fresh ravioli instead of frozen?
Absolutely! Fresh ravioli will work well, though you may want to reduce the baking time slightly (check at the 30-minute mark after uncovering) because fresh pasta cooks faster than frozen. Make sure to choose large, sturdy ravioli so they stand up to the layers and sauce.
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What’s the best way to keep Ravioli Lasagna from becoming watery?
The key is to use well-drained marinara and don’t thaw the ravioli before baking—going straight from freezer to oven locks in their texture and prevents excess moisture. If you notice your sauce is especially thin, let it simmer a bit to reduce before assembling.
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Can I make Ravioli Lasagna ahead for a party?
Yes, you can assemble the entire lasagna up to one day ahead. Cover and refrigerate, then bake as directed when it’s party time. If baking straight from the fridge, just add 10 minutes to the initial covered baking time to ensure it’s heated through.
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How do I make this lasagna vegetarian?
It’s a breeze—just leave out the sausage and bulk up the sauce with sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or roasted zucchini. You can also try using your favorite veggie ravioli for double the color and flavor!
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a deeply satisfying, crowd-pleasing dinner but want to keep things easy, set your sights on Ravioli Lasagna. It’s comfort food at its quick-and-cozy best—the kind of dish that brings everyone to the table with huge smiles. I hope you fall in love with it as much as I have!
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Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Ravioli Lasagna is a delicious twist on traditional lasagna, using frozen ravioli for a quick and easy prep. Layers of ravioli, savory Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and cheeses come together for a comforting and hearty meal.
Ingredients
For the Ravioli Lasagna:
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 small white onion, diced
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 (28-ounce) jars good-quality marinara sauce
- 2 (25-ounce) packages frozen ravioli
- 1 (15-ounce) package ricotta cheese
- 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
- toppings: freshly-grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Prep oven and baking dish: Heat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
- Brown the sausage: Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, using a wooden spatula to crumble the meat as it cooks. Transfer the sausage to a clean plate.
- Sauté the aromatics: In the same pan, sauté onion and garlic until softened. Add marinara sauce and cooked sausage, then stir to combine. Turn off the heat.
- Layer the lasagna: Spread meat sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Layer ravioli, ricotta, mozzarella, and meat sauce, repeating the layers.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Broil for 2-3 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and basil. Serve warm.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 1240mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
