Today I am sharing another family favorite, Four Cheese Lasagna…
This recipe is egg-free for my little one with the egg allergy. It’s super easy to make and so good! I use Oven Ready lasagna noodles (no boiling required), ground turkey (you can use beef), and cottage cheese instead of ricotta. I also use Swiss cheese! If you are a lasagna purist, I may have just lost you. If I haven’t lost you, please read on…
I learned about Swiss Cheese Lasagna from the same friend from Maryland that introduced me to Black-eyed Peas and Sweet Corn Salsa. Thank you Mrs. T! The day my family had her Swiss Cheese Turkey Lasagna was the last time I made lasagna the traditional way.
The recipe below has been adapted over the years and can be made with a ricotta and eggs mixture if you’d like. Just replace the cottage cheese mixture with your favorite ricotta mix. I highly recommend trying Swiss cheese if you haven’t tried it yet, SO DARN GOOD!
FOUR CHEESE LASAGNA RECIPE
Ingredients
- Box of Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles (I never use the entire box)
- 2 Jars of your favorite Pasta Sauce (24 or 26 oz jars)
- 1 lb of Ground Turkey or Lean Ground Beef – cooked and drained of excess fat
- 24 oz Small Curd Cottage Cheese (4% or 2%)
- 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian Herb Mix/Seasoning (I use Penzeys Italian Herb Mix)
- 1 to 1 1/2 Cups of Grated Swiss Cheese (you can use slices of Swiss Cheese)
Directions
Bake lasagna according to the directions on the oven ready lasagna noodle brand you are using. I used Great Value brand, baked @ 425 degree F for 1 hour. Each brand is different, so be sure to follow their directions.
Preheat oven according to the temperature on your box of lasagna. Lightly spray 9×13 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cook meat in a large pan and drain excess fat. Add the two jars of pasta sauce to the meat using the same pan – mix well. Set aside. Next, in a medium size bowl, mix cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan and Italian seasoning. Set aside. Now start to layer your pan.
Take 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce and spread it on the bottom of 9×13 baking pan. Place lasagna noodles in a single layer, side by side on top. Next, use 1/2 of the cheese mixture, spreading evenly over noodles. Now pour 1/3 of the meat sauce on top, spreading evenly – top with lasagna noodles. Repeat one more time. Now pour remaining meat sauce over noodles, spread evenly and top with Swiss cheese. Cover tightly with a double layer of foil or hefty duty foil. Place on middle rack of oven and bake according to directions on your ready bake lasagna noodle box. You may want to place a pan on the bottom rack to catch any drippings that might spill over while cooking.
Steps for layering Lasagna from bottom to top
1.) 1 1/2 cups Meat Sauce
2.) Noodles
3.) 1/2 of the Cheese Mixture
4.) 1/3 of remaining Meat Sauce
5.) Noodles
6.) Other 1/2 of the Cheese Mixture
7.) 1/2 of remaining Meat Sauce
8.) Noodles
9.) The rest of the Meat Sauce
10.) Top with Swiss Cheese
(Sprinkled with parsley – optional)
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Cheers!
Lexi in Alaska
Currently have this in the oven. I live in Alaska so I used ground caribou meat. Our cheese selections up her ad limited so I used Mozarella instead of Swiss but kept everything else the same. Can't wait to try it.
M Reuter
I can't wait to try this. I also wanted to compliment you on your use of Penzeys Italian Herb. It was a favorite of mine… until I discovered Penzeys Tuscan Sunset. It beats the Italian herb hands down. If you haven't tried it, you should. I like it so much I've given it as gifts to my cooking friends.
M Reuter
I know this is an older post, but I had to compliment your use of Penzey's. I also wanted to tell you I loved their Italian herb, until I found a new favorite – Penzeys Tuscan Sunset. It is amazing stuff! I gave small jars as stocking stuffers and teachers gifts last year. If they were really lucky, they received a Penzeys cinnamon too.
M Reuter
I know this is an older post, but I had to compliment your use of Penzey's. I also wanted to tell you I loved their Italian herb, until I found a new favorite – Penzeys Tuscan Sunset. It is amazing stuff! I gave small jars as stocking stuffers and teachers gifts last year. If they were really lucky, they received a Penzeys cinnamon too.
marysweetlittlebluebird
Thank you for the tip! I'll be adding that to my list! I can't wait to try, Tuscan Sunset! I love everything Penyzeys!
Anonymous
What is the ingredient on top of the lasagna in the picture? is it green onions?
marysweetlittlebluebird
It's parsley.
Talya Tate Boerner
looks so good!
Mel@Mellywood's Mansion
We love lasagna here, but ground turkey is not available here. Turkey only comes out in the weeks leading up to christmas and is very expensive, I think I might try this after christmas when theyre on sale and grind it myself. Looks yum!
marysweetlittlebluebird
Hi Mel, You can use ground beef, so you don't need to wait until Christmas :O)
Always fun to see your sweet face and comments! Thanks so much for visiting!
Natalie @ NorthShore Days
My family are huge lasagne fans too – so def gonna try this – yum!
marysweetlittlebluebird
Yay!!! Let me know what they think. I bet the kids like it!!!
Brandi
Great recipe. My family loves lasagna. Oven-ready noodles are the best.
marysweetlittlebluebird
Hi Brandi,
Oven-ready noodles were life changing 🙂 Thanks for the visit, Brandi! I hope you have a great weekend!!!
Sherry
Never hear of swiss cheese lasagna BUT it sounds good and I'm gonna try it. My boy is a huge lasagna fan…well, my whole family is. I like that you use ground turkey too. Keeps it a bit lighter. 🙂
marysweetlittlebluebird
I had never heard of it either, Sherry, but trust me, if you like Swiss cheese, you'll like this lasagna :O)