Description
This dish combines two classics—gooey lasagna layers and pepperoni pizza toppings—for the ultimate comfort food with a golden, crispy top.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper, to taste
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
- 15 oz ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for a pizza-style twist)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 12–16 slices pepperoni
- Extra mozzarella & cheddar for topping
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Fresh herbs (basil or thyme), for garnish
Instructions
- In a skillet, cook ground beef with onion until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in garlic, marinara, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
- Layer noodles → ricotta mixture → meat sauce → mozzarella/cheddar. Repeat until ingredients are used, finishing with noodles, sauce, and cheese.
- Arrange pepperoni slices on top.
- Sprinkle with oregano and extra mozzarella/cheddar.
- Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 15 minutes more until cheese is bubbly and pepperoni edges are crisp.
- Let lasagna rest 10 minutes before slicing.
- Garnish with fresh herbs.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with mushrooms or a meat alternative.
- Feel free to add your favorite pizza toppings like bell peppers or olives.
- Make ahead and refrigerate before baking for a convenient meal.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg