Pioneer Woman Lasagna Recipe Review: Unconventional Comfort Food Done Right

Ree Drummond, famously known as the Pioneer Woman, has built a culinary empire that resonates with home cooks everywhere. From her engaging TV show to a collection of beloved cookbooks, a welcoming restaurant, a cozy hotel, and even a charming home and kitchen line at Walmart, it’s easy to forget her humble beginnings as a food blogger over a decade ago. As a devoted fan of Ree’s approachable and delicious recipes, I decided to delve into her early online archives. My quest? To uncover the very first recipe she shared back in June 2007: The Best Lasagna. Ever. Intrigued by its bold claim and Ree’s signature style, I was eager to see if this vintage recipe lived up to the hype. Lasagna, a timeless comfort food, is a staple in my kitchen, making this culinary exploration even more enticing. Let’s see if the Pioneer Woman’s original lasagna recipe still holds its own after all these years.

Pioneer Woman Lasagna Recipe: Ingredients and Tools

Pioneer Woman's Classic Lasagna Recipe: A hearty and comforting dish by Ree Drummond.

One of the appealing aspects of Ree Drummond’s recipes is their accessibility. She emphasizes that this lasagna is no exception, stating, “You don’t have to hunt down fresh basil or buffalo mozzarella or Parmigiano Reggiano or handmade sausage from an Italian mama in old Napoli. Anyone can make this, anywhere, anytime.” True to her word, all the ingredients are readily available at any standard grocery store.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 pounds ground beef (for a rich, meaty sauce)
1 pound hot breakfast sausage (adding a unique flavor twist)
2 cloves garlic, minced (essential aromatic base)
2 (14-1/2-ounce) cans whole tomatoes (for a robust tomato flavor)
2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste (to deepen the sauce and add richness)
¼ cup dried parsley, divided (fresh herb notes)
2 tablespoons dried basil (classic Italian herb)
2 teaspoons salt, divided (flavor enhancer)
3 cups low-fat cottage cheese (for a creamy, lighter filling)
2 eggs, beaten (binding agent for the cheese filling)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese—Ree specifies the Kraft kind in the shaker jar (convenient and accessible)
1 pound sliced mozzarella (for gooey, melted cheese layers)
1 10-ounce box lasagna noodles (classic pasta choice)

Essential Kitchen Tools:

Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven: A versatile kitchen tool recommended for making Pioneer Woman's lasagna sauce. Dutch Oven Shop Now

Pyrex Glass Casserole Dish: Ideal baking dish for Pioneer Woman's lasagna recipe. Casserole Dish $24.49 at Amazon

GIR Silicone Spatula: Essential kitchen utensil for stirring and serving lasagna. Silicone Spatula $7.95 at Amazon

First Thoughts: Unconventional Lasagna Choices?

Upon reviewing the ingredient list, a few elements stood out as departures from traditional lasagna recipes. Kraft Parmesan from a jar instead of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano? Cottage cheese replacing ricotta? Breakfast sausage in lieu of Italian sausage? Even my local butcher raised an eyebrow at the breakfast sausage suggestion! However, trusting in the Pioneer Woman’s culinary wisdom, especially when it comes to comfort food classics, I decided to embrace these unique choices. After all, her collection of go-to comfort foods is practically a roadmap to deliciousness.

Crafting the Hearty Meat Sauce

Simmering Tomato Sauce for Pioneer Woman's Lasagna: Ground beef and sausage sauce cooking on the stovetop.

The foundation of any great lasagna is its sauce, and Ree’s recipe begins by browning ground beef and breakfast sausage with minced garlic. While Ree often uses a cast-iron skillet, I opted for a 3-quart Dutch oven to provide ample space for stirring and simmering the sauce. Once the meats were nicely browned, I drained off about half of the rendered grease, a crucial step to prevent the lasagna from becoming overly heavy.

Next, I stirred in the tomato paste and canned whole tomatoes, followed by dried parsley, dried basil, and salt. This aromatic mixture was then left to simmer on the stovetop for approximately 45 minutes. During this time, the whole tomatoes broke down beautifully, melding with the other ingredients to create a rich and flavorful sauce reminiscent of a simple, hearty bolognese. The simmering process is key to developing depth and complexity in the sauce.

Editor’s Tip: To further enhance the flavor, consider this simple technique to boost the flavor of canned tomato paste.

Preparing the Cheese Filling and Noodles

Preparing Cottage Cheese Filling for Lasagna: Mixing cottage cheese, Parmesan, eggs, and parsley.

While the meat sauce simmered and deepened in flavor, it was the perfect time to prepare the lasagna noodles. To ensure they held their shape in the baked lasagna, I cooked them to al dente, remembering the crucial step of seasoning the pasta water for enhanced flavor.

The cheese filling was remarkably simple to prepare. I whisked together eggs and then combined them with low-fat cottage cheese, grated Parmesan, parsley, and salt. Confessing my slight apprehension about cottage cheese in lasagna, I recalled Ree’s reassurance that its presence would be undetectable in the final dish. Trusting her expertise, I proceeded, even embracing her suggestion to use Kraft Parmesan for its familiar, accessible flavor. However, for those who prefer a more robust Parmesan flavor, freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano would be a worthy substitution.

Assembling and Baking the Lasagna

With all components ready, the lasagna assembly began. While Ree doesn’t specify a pan size, a standard 13×9 inch baking dish, a workhorse for countless casserole recipes, proved to be the perfect choice. Following Ree’s instructions, I layered four lasagna noodles across the bottom of the pan, creating the first pasta base. Next, half of the cottage cheese mixture was spread evenly over the noodles, followed by half of the mozzarella slices, creating a layer of melty goodness. Finally, half of the rich meat sauce was spooned over the cheese, completing the first layer of this comforting creation.

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This layering process was repeated to build the second tier of the lasagna. The final touch before baking was a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer. At this stage, the lasagna could be refrigerated for baking later or even frozen for future enjoyment. However, the aroma of the simmering sauce was too tempting to resist, so I opted to bake it immediately. Into a preheated 350°F oven it went for 20-30 minutes, until bubbly and golden brown.

Taste Test: Pioneer Woman Lasagna Verdict

Delicious Slice of Pioneer Woman Lasagna: Layers of pasta, meat sauce, mozzarella, and cottage cheese filling.

The moment of truth arrived with the taste test. While the Pioneer Woman’s lasagna might not adhere to strict Italian culinary traditions, it undeniably delivered on comforting, satisfying flavors. My initial skepticism about the cottage cheese was completely unfounded. Ree was absolutely right – its texture seamlessly blended into the lasagna, contributing an exceptional creaminess without any distinct cottage cheese flavor. The mozzarella provided the delightful gooey cheese pull that lasagna lovers crave. While the Kraft Parmesan added a pleasant savory note, I might consider using freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano next time for a more pronounced Parmesan punch.

The breakfast sausage proved to be a brilliant addition. The hot breakfast sausage variety introduced a subtle warmth that complemented the ground beef beautifully, creating a flavorful and hearty meat sauce. The generous amount of meat sauce ensured every bite was satisfyingly meaty. A simple side salad is all that’s needed to complete this comforting meal.

After experiencing this Pioneer Woman lasagna, it’s clear that Ree Drummond’s culinary instincts are spot-on. Her recipe delivers a delicious, approachable, and crowd-pleasing lasagna that’s perfect for any occasion. Next on my Pioneer Woman culinary adventure? Perhaps tackling one of Ree’s most-loved potluck dishes.