How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna

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.

Prepare ricotta mixture

Step 2: Prepare meat sauce

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

Ground meat in dutch oven

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.

meat sauce in the bottom of the Dutch oven

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.

another layer of meat sauce on top of the noodles

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.

Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese.

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).

Layering lasagna ingredients in dutch oven

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.

Dutch oven lasagna

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.

Slice of dutch oven lasagna on a plate

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!

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Saturday Afternoon Oven Pot Roast

This Saturday afternoon pot roast will be a welcome sight on your weekend dinner table and will leave your house smelling heavenly. If you find that the cooking liquid evaporates too quickly, you can add more broth to the Dutch oven. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia

Get Recipe Need a side with that? Cozy up to these delicious Dutch oven side dish recipes.

One Pot Mac and Cheese

Who likes cleaning up after making mac and cheese? Not this girl. This one-pot mac and cheese is a family favorite, and my 3-year-old is thrilled to see it coming to the dinner table. We love to add sliced smoked sausage to this creamy mac recipe! —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin

How to Make Dutch Oven Lasagna