October 24, 2012
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Love lasagna, but tired of the same ol’ thing? Try Lasagna Cupcakes! They’re easy, mini lasagnas you can pull together in a muffin pan.
Can I tell you a secret? I don’t like lasagna. Shocking, huh?! Isn’t lasagna the one comfort food that everyone seems to like? When you cut it up, it just looks so unappealing to me. But with a husband and daughter who love lasagna, I had to find a way that I could make it and enjoy it too! We love our mini taco cups so we continued our miniature dinner love affair with this recipe.
Use this recipe as a guide. You can easily make adjustments to your own favorite lasagna recipe to turn them into Lasagna Cupcakes.
I sometimes make extra, adding more sauce and vegetables so I can use the meat mixture for an easy school lunch or dinner the next day. Bonus: These are just as delicious at room temperature, and they are perfect portions to pack.
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Lasagna Cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 8 ounces mushrooms chopped
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 3 cups pasta sauce
- 4 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 tablespoons dried basil leaves
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 24 wonton wrappers
- 1 ½ to 2 cups shredded cheese mix of Italian and mozzarella
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F, and spray or oil a 12-cup cupcake pan.
- In a large pan, cook the beef. Once the beef is cooked, add the mushrooms and zucchini, and cook until they have softened. Add the pasta sauce, and simmer for 10 minutes.
- While the meat is cooking, in a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, basil, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- Gently place one wonton wrapper into each cupcake cup. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture into each wonton wrapper, then spoon 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture on top of the ricotta cheese mixture, and sprinkle shredded cheese over each cup.
- Create a second layer of “pasta” by placing a second wonton wrapper over the shredded cheese. Repeat topping with the ricotta mixture, meat mixture, and shredded cheese.
- Bake the cupcakes for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy on the edges. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool slightly before removing them from the pan. Serve immediately.
Linsey
Do regular lasagne sheets work, as in do they harden to keep form?
MOMables
the recipe is designed with wonton wrappers. Regular lasagna sheets wont’ crisp when baked like that. they will be soft. Single serve, yes, but soft.
Mahsa
If you are cooking them from frozen, how long and at what temperature do you cook them?
Michelle
Mahsa, you can cook them at the same temperature and and cook them a little bit longer. Just double check and make sure they are fully cooked through! Also make sure to freeze them uncooked. They do do reheat the same if you have fully cooked them and then freeze them to then reheat later. I hope that helps! :)
Mahsa
Just made these for dinner tonight and they were a hit. I am like you and do not like lasgna, but these were far better in my opinion, not as heavy. Even my super picky 17 month old that basically lives on fruit and dairy ate the filling of 3 cupcakes. Thanks for a great idea and recipe.
Michelle
So glad you liked them! That is wonderful! I’m also glad I’m not alone on not liking lasagna ;)
Nicole Campbell
Do you make your pizza/marinara sauce? If so could you post a recipe? I love all of your homemade recipes!
MOMables
Nicole, this is my homemade tomato sauce. I also make my own spaghetti o’s too. check out this post.
Jasmine
Could you freeze this recipe as well?
MOMables
absolutely!
Nikki
Great idea! Have you ever tried to freeze these? I wonder if that would work?
Laura
this is what I do. I double the batch, assemble in muffin tray. put muffin tray in freezer (uncooked) and after a few hours I take them out and bag. they are uncooked so all i have to do another night is place in oven and bake. they just don’t reheat the same if you cook them and freeze them cooked.
Nikki
Terrific! Thank you!
Amy McCready
A-dorable!! Just shared this recipe with our community. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the fabulous ideas from MOMables! Thank you for inspiring families! xo
Laura
Thank you Amy!!
Michelle
Thank you Amy! :)