What happens when you take the beloved flavors of a juicy bacon cheeseburger, the rich garlic goodness of Parmesan, and layer them into the ultimate comfort food casserole? You get this incredible Parmesan Garlic Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna. This isn’t your grandma’s traditional lasagna; it’s a bold, flavorful, and utterly satisfying mashup that’s guaranteed to become a new family favorite. Forget choosing between burgers and pasta — with this dish, you get the best of both worlds in every single bite!
Why I Love This Recipe
This Parmesan Garlic Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna is pure genius, if I do say so myself. I love it because it takes familiar, comforting flavors and reimagines them in an exciting, crowd-pleasing way. It’s hearty, incredibly cheesy, and surprisingly easy to assemble for such an impressive dish. The layers of seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, tangy pickles (yes, pickles!), and a creamy, garlicky cheese sauce with tender lasagna noodles truly create a unique experience. It offers the same kind of comforting, satisfying feeling as this Instant Pot lasagna is my favorite way to make comfort food fast, but with a fun, unexpected burger twist.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to assemble this epic lasagna:
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1.5 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Other Components:
- 12 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente according to package directions
- 8 ounces (about 1.5 cups) shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 ounces (about 1.5 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8-10 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- ½ cup thinly sliced dill pickles (about 4-5 medium pickles)
- Optional garnishes: chopped tomatoes, shredded lettuce, extra bacon bits
Swaps and Notes
- Ground Beef: You can use ground turkey or a combination of ground beef and sausage for different flavor profiles. Just make sure to drain any excess fat.
- Cheese: Feel free to mix and match your cheeses! Monterey Jack, Colby, or even a smoked cheddar would be delicious in the shredded cheese layers.
- Lasagna Noodles: No-boil lasagna noodles can be used for extra convenience, but ensure there’s enough liquid in your meat sauce for them to hydrate properly.
- Pickles: The pickles add that essential tangy “cheeseburger” flavor. If you’re hesitant, start with a smaller amount or omit them, but I highly recommend trying them! They truly make the dish.
- Bacon: Cook your bacon until it’s nice and crispy, as it will soften slightly during baking.
- Spices: Adjust the herbs and spices to your taste. A pinch of smoked paprika could enhance the “burger” flavor.
List of Steps for the Recipe
Part 1: Prepare the Meat Sauce
- Brown Beef and Onion: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until the beef is browned and the onion is softened, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Add Garlic and Sauce Ingredients: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes (undrained), ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
Part 2: Prepare the Cheese Mixture
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and dried parsley. Mix well until everything is thoroughly combined.
Part 3: Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat Oven & Cook Noodles: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water to prevent sticking.
- First Layer of Sauce: Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Noodles: Arrange 3-4 lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping if needed.
- Ricotta Layer: Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Shredded Cheese & Bacon: Sprinkle with half of the shredded cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese. Scatter half of the crumbled bacon and half of the sliced pickles over the cheese.
- Repeat Layers: Top with about 1.5 cups of meat sauce, then another layer of noodles. Repeat the ricotta, shredded cheese, bacon, and pickle layers.
- Final Layers: Top with the remaining noodles, then the remaining meat sauce. Finish with a generous layer of the remaining shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheeses.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil (you can spray the underside of the foil with cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking). Bake for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and Bake More: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the layers set and prevents it from falling apart.
Tips for Success
- Don’t Overcook Noodles: Cook your lasagna noodles just until al dente. They will continue to cook in the oven and you don’t want them mushy.
- Drain Fat: Ensure you thoroughly drain the fat from the ground beef after browning. This prevents the lasagna from being greasy.
- Freshly Grated Cheese: While pre-shredded cheese works, freshly grated cheese often melts smoother and has a better flavor.
- Season as You Go: Taste your meat sauce and adjust seasonings before assembling.
- Resting Time is Key: Don’t skip the resting time! It allows the lasagna to firm up, making it much easier to slice and serve cleanly.
Serving Suggestions and Pairings
This Parmesan Garlic Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna is a complete meal in itself, but it pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad with a light vinaigrette to cut through the richness. A side of garlic bread or crusty rolls would be perfect for soaking up any extra sauce. For a fun, complementary appetizer, you could try something like this Crockpot nacho dip is the reason I never have leftovers or even transform another classic into a dip, as I did with how I turned a classic sandwich into the ultimate cheesy hot dip.
Storage and Leftover Tips
Leftover Parmesan Garlic Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna is arguably even better the next day as the flavors have more time to meld!
- Refrigeration: Store cooled lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat individual slices in the microwave until warmed through, or cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until hot and bubbly.
- Freezing: Lasagna freezes exceptionally well. You can freeze the entire baked lasagna (after cooling completely) or individual slices. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
More Recipes You Will Love
If you’re a fan of hearty, comforting casseroles and unique flavor combinations, be sure to check out some of these other delicious recipes:
- For another fantastic one-pan meal that’s always a hit, explore this Mexican chicken and rice casserole is my favorite one-pan dinner that’s always a hit.
- If you love easy comfort food, you’ll definitely want to try this Instant Pot lasagna is my favorite way to make comfort food fast.
- For a different cheesy, crowd-pleasing casserole, don’t miss these chicken enchiladas are my go-to for cozy crowd-pleasing dinners.
Final Thoughts
This Parmesan Garlic Bacon Cheeseburger Lasagna is a testament to how creative and delicious comfort food can be. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that brings a fun, familiar twist to the dinner table. Get ready to enjoy a satisfying meal that you’ll want to make again and again!
Have you ever combined your favorite burger flavors with lasagna? I’d love to hear your thoughts and any twists you put on this recipe in the comments below! And for more innovative and delicious ideas, make sure to follow Chef Maniac.
Leave a Reply