Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe

I’ve made a lot of lasagna in my time, but this one? It’s got a special place in my heart. We’ve tested it, tasted it, and now we’re sharing everything you need to know to get it just right-every single time.

The Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe is a traditional Italian lasagna known for its rich meat sauce, creamy béchamel, and layers of pasta, made popular by The Real Housewives of D.C. cast member Giudice DePandi’s mother.

Wanna know how to make it quicker but still taste like it came from Mama’s kitchen? Stick around-we’ll show you our cozy skillet version that’s fast, easy, and packed with flavor like the Mama Depandi Bucatini.

What Does Mama DePandi Lasagna Taste Like?

Mama DePandi Lasagna delights with every bite. It’s a hearty, comforting dish where each spoonful brings together layers of tender pasta, rich tomato sauce, and well-seasoned ground meat.

The robust tomato base, seasoned with garlic and fresh herbs, balances tangy acidity with a hint of sweetness. Cream cheese lends a smooth, velvety texture that harmonizes beautifully with the melted mozzarella and provolone topping, creating a deliciously gooey finish with the Mama DePandi Meatballs.

The result is a satisfying blend of savory, slightly spicy, and comforting flavors-a true celebration of classic Italian taste infused with a modern, lazy twist.

Ingredients Required for Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe

Here’s the list of Ingredients you’ll need to make this Mama DePandi Lasagna

• 8-10 lasagna sheets (broken into pieces)
• 2-3 tbsp olive oil
• 1-2 diced shallots (or more if you love onions!)
• 1 lb ground beef (or mix with pork/Italian sausage)
• 2 tbsp seasoned salt (divided)
• 1 tsp black pepper (divided)
• 2 tbsp minced garlic
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• ½ can water or beef broth
• 1 tbsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• ¼ cup sugar (to taste)
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh oregano (a few sprigs or 1 tbsp dried)
• 3-4 oz cream cheese (or ricotta if you prefer)
• 1-1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ½ cup shredded provolone
• Italian seasoning (for garnish)

Kitchen Utensil You’ll Need

1. Large skillet (oven-safe if broiling)
2. Large pot (for boiling pasta)
3. Strainer (for draining meat and pasta)
4. Wooden spoon or spatula
5. Cheese grater (if shredding fresh cheese)
6. Oven or broiler (optional, for finishing)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 4 to 6 servings

Copycat Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe

Simply follow the steps given below to make your Mama DePandi Lasagna at home

1. Boil the Lasagna Sheets:
Start by breaking your lasagna sheets into smaller chunks. Boil them in salted water until firm-tender, then drain and set aside. Follow the package instructions if unsure – no shame in that!

2. Sauté the Base:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in a diced shallot (or more if you love onions like me), and cook until soft.

3. Cook the Meat:
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Season with 2 tbsp seasoned salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Cook thoroughly – no pink should be left! Once done, drain the grease and set the meat aside.

4. Make the Sauce:
In the same skillet, add another shallot and your minced garlic. Let that cook for a minute or two, then pour in your crushed tomatoes. Fill the can halfway with water (or broth) and stir it in.

5. Season the Sauce:
Add another 1 tbsp of seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1 tsp of black pepper. Sweeten with ¼ cup sugar to balance the acidity. Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper and fresh oregano to give it a nice lift.

6. Combine It All:
Stir your cooked ground meat back into the sauce. Then add the boiled lasagna pieces. Mix it all up until everything’s coated well.

7. Add Creaminess and Cheese:
Stir in cream cheese (or ricotta). Then top everything with shredded mozzarella, provolone, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning.

8. Melt the Cheese:
You can either: Cover the skillet and let it melt on the stovetop, or Pop it under the broiler for a few minutes to get that golden, bubbly top (my favorite method!).

Some Tasty Ways To Customize and Serve This Mama DePandi Lasagna

1. With a Big Ol’ Garlic Bread Loaf
Let me tell you, this lasagna with warm, buttery garlic bread? Game changer. We love to tear off big pieces and scoop the lasagna right onto the bread. It’s messy… but oh, it’s worth it!

2. Side Salad for That Fresh Crunch
We always throw together a quick salad – romaine, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a little vinaigrette. That crisp freshness next to the cheesy, saucy lasagna balances the whole meal. Gotta have that crunch!

3. Topped With a Fried Egg (Trust Us!)
Okay, this one sounds wild, but hear us out: the next morning, we’ve thrown a fried egg on leftover lasagna and it was heaven. The yolk mixes with the sauce? Whew. Breakfast of champions, y’all.

4. Over Roasted Veggies
Sometimes we roast up some zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers and use them as a bed for the lasagna. It adds a little smokiness and makes the dish feel extra hearty without more carbs.

5. With a Glass of Red Wine
A smooth red – like a cab or merlot – just melts into this meal. It brings out the richness of the sauce and all those Italian herbs. We ain’t wine experts, but this combo never fails.

6. Next to Crispy Parmesan Brussels Sprouts
You ever toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil, garlic, and parmesan, then roast them ’til crispy? Pair that with this lasagna and you’ll feel like you’re dining at a little Italian bistro. It’s SO good.

7. As a Dip With Toasted Baguette Slices
One night, we had leftovers and decided to scoop it onto some toasted baguette slices like a dip. Instant party food. That cheesy top layer makes the perfect scoop!

8. Topped With a Dollop of Ricotta or Sour Cream
Even though we use cream cheese in the dish, adding a cool little dollop of ricotta or sour cream on top when serving makes it feel extra creamy and fancy. Adds a nice contrast too.

9. With Pickled Veggies or Giardiniera
This might sound odd, but a few bites of tangy pickled veggies between bites of lasagna cuts the richness perfectly. We found that trick at an Italian deli and never looked back.

10. Tucked Into a Lasagna Sandwich
Yup, we’ve done it. A soft hoagie roll, a scoop of lasagna in the middle, a little extra cheese melted on top… y’all. It’s messy, over-the-top, and totally unforgettable. Lazy lasagna meets sandwich heaven!

Some Tips on This Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe

1. Break the noodles up first.
I like to crush the lasagna sheets before I boil them. It’s just easier that way. If you cook them whole and cut them later, they get kinda messy.

2. Salt your pasta water.
Don’t skip this, y’all! It makes the noodles taste better. Like, really better. Just a good pinch is all you need.

3. Use more onion if your kids let you.
I love onion! But my kids don’t. So I keep it light. If you don’t have picky eaters, go ahead and toss in more.

4. Drain the meat good.
After cooking the ground beef, I always pour off the extra grease. We don’t want a greasy lasagna, no ma’am!

5. Season the sauce a lot.
Crushed tomatoes by themselves? Kinda blah. I always add salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder, and even a little sugar. Trust me, it makes it taste like real lasagna sauce.

6. Don’t skip the sugar.
Even just a little sugar helps cut the sour taste in the tomatoes. I do about a 1/4 cup. You can do less if you want.

7. Add that cream cheese!
Now listen, I don’t like ricotta, so I use cream cheese. It melts in and makes the lasagna creamy and so good. Try it once – you might never go back!

8. More sauce = better lasagna.
If it’s too dry, the noodles soak everything up and it ain’t good. So I always make sure there’s more sauce than meat.

9. Broil for a bubbly top.
Y’all, I love broiling the cheese. It gets brown and crispy around the edges. That’s my favorite part!

10. Let it rest before eating.
I know it smells so good, but give it 5 minutes to cool. It helps the cheese set up and keeps it from burning your mouth!

How to Store and Reheat Mama DePandi Lasagna?

Let leftovers cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, just pop it in the microwave or warm it gently on the stove with a splash of water or broth to keep it moist.

You can also freeze this dish for up to 2 months. Let it thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Common Queries on This Mama DePandi Lasagna Recipe

Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Mama DePandi Lasagna that people often ask.

1. What is the main ingredient in lasagna?

From our experience, lasagna just isn’t lasagna without three things: noodles, sauce, and cheese. In this skillet version, we’ve got crushed-up lasagna sheets, a rich homemade meat sauce, and layers of mozzarella and provolone cheese that make it melt-in-your-mouth good!

2. What’s the secret to a good lasagna?

Oh honey, the secret is in the sauce and the layering – even in a skillet recipe like this. We always make sure our meat is seasoned well, our sauce is balanced (yes, a little sugar makes a big difference), and we’ve got just the right amount of cheese. And don’t forget: let it rest a few minutes before serving – that sets everything up beautifully.

3. How do you make lasagna in a skillet?

It’s easier than you think! We boil the lasagna noodles in pieces, cook up a simple seasoned meat sauce, mix in the pasta and a bit of cream cheese (our secret shortcut), then melt cheese over the top right in the skillet. Either cover it or broil it – and boom, dinner’s served in under 30 minutes.

4. Can I use jarred sauce instead of crushed tomatoes?

Absolutely, you can! We’ve done that on busy nights. Just pick a sauce you love, and maybe doctor it up with a bit of garlic, oregano, or even some red pepper flakes to give it that homemade flair.

5. What kind of cheese works best for this recipe?

We like a mix of mozzarella and provolone for that gooey, stringy pull – but don’t be afraid to throw in some parmesan or fontina if that’s what you’ve got. Cream cheese is our go-to instead of ricotta, just because it makes things ultra creamy and kid-friendly.

6. Is this recipe kid-friendly?

You bet it is! That’s one reason we love it so much. The sauce is flavorful but not spicy (unless you add crushed red pepper), and the cheesy goodness is always a hit with little ones. You can even sneak in some finely chopped veggies if you’re feeling bold.

7. Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes, and we do that all the time. You can prep everything – noodles, sauce, even mix it all together – and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, just reheat it in the skillet and add your cheese to melt or broil.

8. What’s a good meat substitute if I don’t eat beef?

Great question! We’ve made this with ground turkey, chicken, and even plant-based crumbles. You can also leave the meat out entirely and just load up on veggies for a hearty vegetarian version.

9. Why do you use cream cheese instead of ricotta?

Simple: we just like it better! Cream cheese adds a smooth, rich texture without that graininess ricotta sometimes has. But hey, if you’re a ricotta fan, go for it. It’s all about what tastes good to you.

10. How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Let your leftovers cool down first, then pop ‘em into an airtight container. We keep ours in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, microwave or warm it on the stove with a splash of broth or water. It also freezes beautifully – just thaw overnight and reheat like usual.

And there you have it – my Lazy Skillet Mama DePandi Lasagna. It’s hearty, cheesy, and comes together faster than you can say “Where’s the ricotta?” Whether you’re feeding picky kids or craving a shortcut to classic comfort, this dish brings all the flavor with none of the fuss.

Let me know if you give it a try – and don’t forget to share your cheesy skillet pics in the comments!

Feel free to share your experience with this recipe by trying it out. Don’t forget to drop a comment and provide your feedback on the blog for us to read.

Additionally, You can also like and, follow us on Pinterest, and Reddit for more updates. Your thoughts and engagement are greatly appreciated!