Nov 16

Nov 16 Mini {Make-Your-Own} Lasagna for the Whole Family

Today I’m thrilled to welcome April Huard and Abby Miller from Everyday Table as regular contributors to The Better Mom. I can’t wait for these two sisters to share great family recipes with you, including their lasagna recipe today! -XO, Ruth

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We love to get our kids involved in the kitchen, and this hands-on lasagna recipe baked in individual bread pans is guaranteed to bring the whole family around the table! One of the great things about this lasagna is that it doesn’t require a lot of prep. The simple ingredients allow you to pull it together quickly and easily - even on a weeknight.

If your kids are little, you can cook the noodles and ground beef ahead of time. If they’re older, you can assign those tasks to one of them (these are great basic skills that older kids can learn). Once the pasta and meat are ready, just set out all of the parts and pieces, and let everyone get creative!

You can use traditional lasagna ingredients, or you can change things up - whatever your family prefers. Here are some toppings that we like:

Meat - ground beef, sausage

Cheese - ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan

Sauce - your favorite marinara or tomato sauce

Extras - olives, mushrooms, pepperoni, italian seasoning

For super-easy clean up, use disposable foil bread pans - one for each person. Our little kids use the mini-loaf pans, but teenage boys might need the regular size. We label the bottom of each one with Sharpie so that everyone is sure to get their own creation.

Once the assembly is finished, pop them all into the oven to bake. Meanwhile, take advantage of the wait time with a game or a conversation around the table. This fun family night has become a regular part of our dinner traditions. Maybe it will become part of yours too!