Ramen Lasagna Twist (Printable)

A creative layered bake featuring ramen noodles, tomato sauce, and melted cheese for a cozy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Noodles

01 - 3 instant ramen noodle bricks (about 3 ounces each), seasoning packets discarded

→ Sauce

02 - 2 cups tomato pasta sauce
03 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (optional)
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

→ Cheese

05 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 cup ricotta or cottage cheese

→ Garnish

08 - Fresh basil leaves (optional)
09 - Cracked black pepper (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Set oven temperature to 375°F.
02 - Combine tomato pasta sauce, dried Italian herbs, and garlic powder in a medium bowl.
03 - In a separate bowl, mix ricotta (or cottage cheese) with half of the grated Parmesan cheese.
04 - Lightly grease an 8x8-inch baking dish.
05 - Spread one-quarter of the tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
06 - Place one ramen noodle brick on top of the sauce, breaking pieces to fit as necessary.
07 - Spread one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then sprinkle with one-third of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
08 - Repeat the layering process two more times, ending with the remaining tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese on top.
09 - Pour 1/2 cup of water around the edges of the dish to aid cooking of the noodles.
10 - Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
11 - Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
12 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and cracked black pepper if desired before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms dollar-store ingredients into something that tastes fancy enough to serve guests without admitting what they're eating.
  • The ramen noodles stay tender instead of mushy because the water addition is deliberate, not accidental.
  • You can make it in under an hour, including cleanup, and it genuinely impresses people.
02 -
  • The water is essential—without it, the ramen stays crunchy instead of tender. I learned this the hard way on attempt one.
  • Discarding the ramen flavor packets is non-negotiable because they'll make the whole dish taste like artificial chicken even though you're making Italian food.
  • Don't skip the 5-minute rest or you'll end up with hot cheese sliding off the sides like a kitchen disaster waiting to happen.
03 -
  • Make it the morning before and bake it that evening—the noodles absorb flavor beautifully overnight, and you'll have dinner mostly ready to go.
  • If you find yourself with leftover ramen blocks and no immediate plans, this is the answer to that problem, which is why I now always keep it in mind when I'm meal planning on a budget.
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