What Is Dutch Oven Cooking

The ultimate comfort food, this Dutch oven lasagna is an easy version of the Italian favorite, made quickly on the stovetop. With layers of noodles, meat sauce and cheese, it's a classic the whole family will love!

Lasagna is one of those crowd-pleasing recipes that never fails. My mother-in-law is famous for her Christmas Eve Lasagna, which combines ground beef and sausage with a creamy tomato sauce and, of course, plenty of gooey cheese. Inspired by Carole's recipe, I've used the same ingredients and transformed them into a simple, one-pot version of the family favorite.

This Dutch oven lasagna requires minimal prep, but delivers maximum flavor. You'll feel like you're dining at your favorite Italian restaurant, and it's quick enough to cook on a busy weeknight. Invite over your friends and family, because there's plenty of this cheesy stovetop casserole to go around!

How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup pesto
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 1 jar (45 ounces) marinara sauce (about 5 cups)
• 1 cup Alfredo sauce or vodka sauce
• 1 box (8 ounces) oven-ready lasagna noodles
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley or basil

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare ricotta mixture

In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, egg and pesto. Set aside.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Step 2: Prepare meat sauce

In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the beef and sausage until no longer pink.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Transfer the meat to a large bowl and drain off fat from the Dutch oven. Stir marinara sauce and Alfredo sauce into the meat until completely combined. Set aside.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Step 3: Layer the lasagna

Place about two cups of meat sauce in the bottom of the Dutch oven. Add a layer of lasagna noodles on top (I use about 3 noodles per layer), breaking the noodles to fit.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Add another layer of meat sauce on top of the noodles. Dollop about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture (about 2/3 cup) on top of the sauce.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Starting with the noodles, repeat the layers two more times (noodles, meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan). Finish with one more layer of noodles, meat sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan (no ricotta).

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Step 4: Cook the Dutch oven lasagna on your stovetop

Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. If you'd like the top of the lasagna browned and crispy, you can remove the lid and place the Dutch oven under the broiler for a few minutes at the very end.

Step 5: Let the lasagna rest

Allow the lasagna to sit for about 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped herbs, if desired.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

Cook's Tips and Recipe Variations

• Bring this recipe camping. You can cook the entire dish over the campfire. If you want to save time, you can even prepare the ricotta mixture and meat sauce at home. Then you'll only need to layer the ingredients in your pot when you're out in the woods. (Try these other Dutch oven camping recipes, too.)
• Don't skip the pesto. It adds a huge amount of Italian flavor to the lasagna!
• My mother-in-law always adds a small amount of Alfredo sauce to her meat sauce. It doesn't make the sauce too creamy, but it adds a special taste that everyone raves about. If you don't want to use the Alfredo, you can use 6 cups of your favorite marinara sauce.
• Make sure that you allow the lasagna to rest before slicing. This will help the dish set up so that it doesn't fall into a pile of mush on your plate.
• I use a 5-1/2 quart Dutch oven for this recipe.

Blair Lonergan for Taste of Home

More Dutch Oven Recipes That You'll Enjoy

Whether you're camping, trying to avoid turning on your oven on a hot summer day or just looking forward to simmering a cozy meal on the stovetop, a Dutch oven is an incredibly versatile tool in the kitchen. You'll love this classic Beef Burgundy, this Classic Pot Roast and this Southern Chili.

If you're cooking over a campfire, this Campfire Hash is a perfect way to start your day, while this Bean 'N' Ham Soup is sure to become a cozy favorite. So many recipes to prepare in one pot!

Put more of your skills to the test with our collection of Dutch oven recipes!

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These Dutch oven soup recipes are perfect for chilly nights.

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Check out more vegetarian Dutch oven recipes the whole family will love.

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You don't have to be Italian to love this easy-to-make soup with tiny round pasta! Add homemade meatballs but use ready-made stock and rotisserie chicken.—Mary Sheetz, Carmel, Indiana

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I serve this delicious entree each St. Patrick's Day, even though my family is Dutch, not Irish. The tender meat is topped with a simple, tangy glaze that is so tasty. Leftovers make excellent Reuben sandwiches. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup

Similar to a Vietnamese pho rice noodle soup, this red curry soup packs big flavor and a bit of heat. The crisp raw vegetables help cool things down. —Monnie Norasing, Mansfield, Texas

Craving more? We love these other Dutch oven chicken recipes, too. This Dutch oven chicken thighs recipe is a must-try.

Creamy Noodle Casserole

My husband, Ronald, works long hours and frequently doesn't arrive home until past 7 p.m. This casserole is ideal for those late nights—it's just as tasty after it's been warmed in the microwave. —Barb Marshall, Pickerington, Ohio

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This robust chili teams rice, kidney and pinto beans, and a variety of colorful vegetables for a hearty meatless meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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My easy, go-to chicken and pasta recipe is ready and on the table in about a half an hour. It's a fabulous option for those busy weeknights. — Lorraine Stevenski, Land O' Lakes, Florida

Learn how to make a Dutch oven chicken.

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I make this dish for football-watching parties because it feeds so many people. It leaves my mouth watering for it the rest of the year! —Kecia McCaffrey, South Dennis, Massachusetts

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What Is Dutch Oven Cooking

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