🍝 Bucket Lasagna: A Convenient Make-Ahead European Delight! 🍲
If you’re in search of a time-saving, family-friendly European dish that not only delights your taste buds but also allows for easy freezing and reheating, look no further than the delectable “Bucket Lasagna.” This recipe yields a total of six hearty dinners, each frozen in convenient portions that can be effortlessly re-heated in a crockpot whenever the craving strikes.
🕒 Cooking Times:
| Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| PT0S (No Prep!) | Not Applicable | PT45M |
Ingredients:
- 5 lbs of ground hamburger 🍔
- Tomato sauce (quantity to your liking) 🍅
- 2 large containers of cottage cheese 🧀
- 4 eggs 🥚
- Salt and pepper (to taste) 🧂
- Large quantity of shredded mozzarella cheese 🧀
- Lasagna noodles (2 packages, either no-bake or regular) 🍝
- 6 (one gallon) ice cream buckets or similar containers 🍨
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 916.9
- Fat: 52.8g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Cholesterol: 403.3mg
- Sodium: 846.6mg
- Carbohydrates: 5.3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 4.2g
- Protein: 99.1g
Instructions:
- 🍔 Cook a large package of ground hamburger (approximately 5 lbs) and drain the excess fat.
- 🍅 Place the cooked hamburger back in the same pan, adding tomato sauce and your preferred spices.
- 🧀 In a separate large bowl, combine two large containers of cottage cheese, four eggs, and season with salt and pepper.
- 🧀 Set up another bowl with a generous amount of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- 🍝 Open two packages of lasagna noodles, opting for regular ones as they add a thicker layer to your lasagna.
- 🍲 Arrange all ingredient bowls and pans in a convenient row on your counter for easy access.
- 🍨 Take 6 one-gallon ice cream buckets or similar containers.
- 🔄 Begin layering your lasagna: noodles, sauce, cheese, and repeat until you’ve built the layers.
- ❄️ Freeze the lasagnas until solid. Once frozen, transfer them from the ice cream buckets to gallon Ziploc bags for more efficient storage.
- 🥶 Utilize the ice cream bucket for its perfect size and shape, ensuring a seamless fit in your 5-quart crockpot. Alternatively, find a container that suits your preferences.
- 🍽️ On lasagna day, simply pop one into the crockpot on LOW, and let it simmer all day. When you return home, dinner is ready to be enjoyed!
This time-saving recipe not only provides the convenience of preparing multiple meals in one go but also ensures a delicious and satisfying dining experience. With the flavors melding together during the slow cooking process, each bite promises to be a comforting journey into the heart of European cuisine. So, indulge in the ease of preparation and the joy of savoring homemade Bucket Lasagna whenever the mood strikes! 🇮🇹🍽️
