It doesn’t get much better than lasagna. A rich meaty filling loaded with pasta and stringy, cheesy goodness. However, you can have too much of a good thing – lasagna every day for 6 days might be a bit much.
This loaf tin lasagna might be the answer. Four easy portions for four days’ worth of meal prep. The perfect high-protein meal prep for when you’re wanting the ultimate comfort food.
Jump to:
- How to prepare lasagna and freeze ahead
- Prep the meat sauce
- How long to cook lasagna
- How to store lasagna
- How to reheat lasagna
- How to reheat frozen lasagna
- Variations and add ins
- Tips
- Equipment needed
- Loaf tin lasagna recipe
- Other pasta dishes
How to prepare lasagna and freeze ahead
To save yourself some prep time mid-week, assemble the lasagna when you have time and then freeze it (without cooking it). Then when it comes to cooking, pop it straight in the oven from the freezer, and cook for an additional 45 minutes.
Prep the meat sauce
Alternatively, if you don't have enough room in the freezer for a loaf tin of lasagna, you can make the meat sauce and freeze this. The night before you want to dive into your lasagna, take the sauce out of the freezer and allow it to defrost in the fridge. Then when you’re ready to eat, assemble and 35 minutes later you’ll be in lasagna heaven.
How long to cook lasagna
Lasagna normally takes between 30-45 minutes to cook, depending on whether you’ve used fresh or dried pasta sheets. I'd argue that the crispy bits around the edges are the best part, so I'm willing to increase the cooking time slightly to enjoy my lasagna at its best.
How to store lasagna
Once you’ve allowed the lasagna to cool, split it into portions and transfer into air-tight containers. Store in the fridge until it’s time to dive in or freeze until you’re ready to enjoy later.
How to reheat lasagna
In the oven
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut a slice and place it in the centre of a tray. If you’re looking to crisp up the cheesy top, put it in the oven as is, if it’s already brown enough, place a layer of foil on top. Cook for between 10-15 minutes, or until it’s hot all the way through.
In the microwave
Using the microwave is often the only option for reheating in the office. It won’t give you the same crispy edge, but it still beats a ham and cheese sandwich. Place a portion in a microwavable dish, splash it with a few drops of water, cover and heat for 2-3 minutes, or until it’s hot in the middle.
In the air fryer
If you’re an air fryer kind of person, you can also heat your lasagna up in there, and it’ll keep its crispiness. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and pop your lasagna in for 4-5 minutes, or until it’s piping hot all the way through.
How to reheat frozen lasagna
To cook straight from frozen, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 45 minutes. If it begins to brown on the top, put some tinfoil around the tin and continue cooking.
Variations and add ins
Mix it up, or keep it simple, the choice is yours. But remember, if you’re tracking your macros, make sure to edit the nutrients if you make any changes.
Make it veggie/vegan
For meat-free Monday, swap out your turkey mince for meat-substitute mince. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, blend some mushrooms for a mince-substitute with that meaty texture.
And to make it vegan, make sure to swap out any cheese for a vegan alternative.
Different meat
Turkey mince might be the leanest option, but if you’re after a richer flavour, you can swap it for pork or beef mince. Or even a mixture of the two.
Add in extra veggies
Lasagna is a great dish to chuck in whatever is lurking at the back of the fridge. Celery, carrots, peppers – chop it up small and chuck it in.
Tips
- Richer sauce – to make a richer, tastier sauce, add some stock cubes and red wine. Cook this for a bit longer, until the liquid has reduced, and then use this as your meaty base.
- Sugar – once your meat sauce is cooked, give it a little taste. If it’s a bit on the sour side, add a teaspoon of sugar to sweeten it up.
- Grate your own cheese, shop-bought grated cheese may not melt as well.
- Fresh vs dried sheets – fresh lasagna sheets feel as though they soak up the sauce better, but dried sheets are cheaper. There's not much in it, but if you want to make the ultimate lasagna, I'd go with fresh sheets.
Equipment needed
- Large pan
- Loaf tin
- Large spoon
- Sharp knife
Loaf tin lasagna recipe
Loaf Tin Lasagna
- Servings
- Serves 4
- Prep Time
- 10 minutes
- Cook Time
- 60 minutes
- Passive Time
- 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tsp. coconut oil
- 1 white onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 tbsp. dried oregano
- 350 g turkey mince
- 600 g chopped tomatoes
- 300 g lasagna sheets
- 1 zucchini
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 400 g cottage cheese
- 3 egg whites
- 100 g low-fat cheese (grated)
Instructions
First, make your turkey ragu. Add the coconut oil to a pan on a medium to high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes, then add the garlic and sauté for a further 2 minutes (if you’re using the powdered versions, add them after the next step).
Next, add the turkey mince and break it up a little using a spatula, then allow it to brown for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oregano, ½ tsp. salt and pepper, and the tomatoes and simmer on a low heat for 10 minutes.
While you’re waiting, whisk the cottage cheese and egg whites together in a bowl using a fork with the remaining salt and pepper. Set aside. Preheat the oven at 395°F or 350°F for fan-assisted.
Now prepare your zucchini and lasagna sheets. Use a vegetable peeler to slice the zucchini lengthways to get long slices. Wash the lasagna sheets under cold water in a colander.
Once the turkey ragu is ready, it’s time to make up the lasagna. Start with a layer of zucchini for easy removal once cooked. Then alternate between the ragu, cheese sauce, lasagna sheets, and zucchini. Finish with a layer of lasagna, then cheese sauce, then sprinkle with low-fat cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes with foil on, then remove the foil, turn the heat up by 70°F and bake for a further 20 minutes. Once cooked, divide into four meal prep containers, serve with your favourite salad or vegetables, and store in the fridge for up to three days.
Nutritional info per serving:
| Calories | 665 |
|---|---|
| Total Fat | 8g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 74g |
| Protein | 50g |
Other pasta dishes
If, like me, you have pasta more than once a week, try these recipes to keep your pasta streak going.
Marry me chicken pasta
Good enough for a proposal, or at least that’s what TikTok has to say.
Macros: Calories: 460kcal, Protein: 36g, Carbs: 52g, Fat: 13g
Recipe here.
Creamy cajun chicken pasta
Creamy, rich, and packed full of veggies. The perfect mid-week to keep you full and satisfied.
Macros: Calories: 516kcal, Protein: 38g, Carbs: 71g, Fat: 8g
Recipe here.
Creamy sausage pasta
When chicken and rice doesn’t quite cut it, level up your meal prep and say hello to creamy sausage pasta.
Macros: Calories: 415kcal, Protein: 34g, Carbs: 48g, Fat: 5g
Recipe here.
