Whip up this lazy lasagna made with rotini noodles — a budget-friendly, family-approved twist that’s easier, faster, and often cheaper than traditional lasagna. This hearty under-$10 dinner delivers all the cheesy, saucy comfort you love with simple ingredients you can snag on sale.
This post is part of our $10 Dinner Ideas series, brought to you by Brigette on our team! Each week, she will be sharing easy, delicious, and affordable family-friendly dinner ideas that cost less than $10 to make, use everyday ingredients, and are super quick meals.
Why You’ll Love This Lazy Lasagna Casserole Recipe
Lazy Lasagna Casserole is a huge crowd-pleaser, and it’s easier to throw together than traditional lasagna. I can always score cheap rotini pasta with coupons and sales (but not cheap lasagna noodles – anyone else find it to be this way?), and since I ended up with 7 boxes of pasta last week for $1.52 total, I knew it was a perfect week to make this recipe!
Crystal has some great ideas of things you can substitute or add-in to Lazy Lasagna Casserole, so be sure to read her notes on the recipe! I ended up using the entire 14.5oz box of noodles (the recipe only calls for 8oz), and then added some extra pasta sauce to account for the extra noodles (but didn’t change the amounts of any of the other ingredients) – making this recipe stretch even further!
I served it with green beans and some crescent rolls that I had gotten for $0.84 last week, but the side possibilities for this dish are practically endless. It would be amazing with a tossed salad!
Lazy Lasagna Casserole Dinner Menu:
Ingredients for Lazy Lasagna Casserole:
- 1-lb sausage (Aldi) — $2.79
- 1 onion (Aldi – $2.75 for 4 lbs) — $0.28
- 3 cups shredded cheese (Bargain City – $11 for 5lbs) — $1.22
- 1 can crushed tomatoes (Harris Teeter) — $0.50
- 3/4 jar pasta sauce (Aldi – $1.38) — $1.04
- 2 eggs (Aldi – $1.96 for 12) — $0.33
- 2 cups cottage cheese (Aldi – $2.65 for 24oz) — $1.77
- 1 box Barilla protein rotini pasta (Publix – $0.78 for 4 boxes) — $0.20
- italian seasoning, salt, pepper
- 2 cans green beans (Aldi) — $1
- 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls (Publix) — $0.84
Grand Total for Dinner: $9.97 (serves 6-8)
How to Make Easy Lasagna Casserole:
1. Follow the directions here. My modifications to the recipe: I used an entire 14.5 oz box of pasta and about 3/4 cups extra pasta sauce while keeping all of the other ingredients the same as the original recipe. For this lasagna recipe with cottage cheese, I also used 3 cups of shredded cheese.
2. Prep any additional sides while the casserole is baking. I baked the crescent rolls and heated up the green beans. Easy and delicious – and we have enough casserole leftovers to have for lunch!
Lazy Lasagna Casserole with Green Beans & Crescent Rolls
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Ingredients
- 1- lb sausage Aldi — $2.79
- 1 onion Aldi – $2.75 for 4 lbs — $0.28
- 3 cups shredded cheese Bargain City – $11 for 5lbs — $1.22
- 1 can can crushed tomatoes Harris Teeter — $0.50
- 3/4 jar pasta sauce Aldi – $1.38 — $1.04
- 2 eggs Aldi – $1.96 for 12 — $0.33
- 2 cups cottage cheese Aldi – $2.65 for 24oz — $1.77
- 1 box Barilla protein rotini pasta Publix – $0.78 for 4 boxes — $0.20
- 1/2 teaspoon italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
- 2 cans green beans Aldi — $1
- 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls Publix — $0.84
Instructions
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Brown ground beef and onion until cooked through. Drain.
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While the meat is cooking, boil the noodles according to the package directions.
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Mix spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes with browned ground beef.
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Set 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese aside to sprinkle on the top.
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Combine the rest of the mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, beaten eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper.
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In a 7″ x 11″ pan, layer a third of the meat sauce, then the noodles, then the cheese mixture.
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Repeat the layers two more times.
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Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
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Bake at 350º for 30 to 45 minutes (until bubbly).
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Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 557kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 91mg | Sodium: 1137mg | Potassium: 918mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1016IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 5mg
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More Ideas for Family Dinners Under $10:
And, be sure to check out all our easy dinner recipes here!
Do you have a favorite family dinner for under $10 or a suggestion for what I should make next? Share your ideas in the comments below!
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