Lasagna in a Bun

Some time in the last year I found this recipe in a magazine. I want to give credit to the right one but I am not positive which one it was...Taste of Home maybe? If I google "Lasagna in a Bun", I can find it in different places on the web, so I am thinking it is not a top secret recipe. Anyway, it is one of my new favorites. I seriously could eat the whole pan if I let myself. I don't for weight purposes plus that whole family I need to feed, but I could. It is one of the few meals that all kids will eat, even my semi-vegetarian preschool son. :)

Lasagna in a Bun

First thing you need: Hoagie buns (8 to be exact). I get mine from the bakery area at our grocery store if they aren't out of stock. I have also found them with the loaves of bread. However not all hoagie buns are created the same. Don't get split buns. You need just whole hoagies.

So you take the hoagie buns and use a knife to cut an oval around the top of the bun. Then "dig out" the middle section, leaving a quarter inch or so all over. It will look kind of like a little canoe.

I have been asked what I do with all of the leftover bread. I sometimes just throw it out, sometimes (like tonight) I bag it up to take it to the "duck park" with the kids to feed the ducks. I am sure there are some other uses for it like making bread crumbs or croutons. I was just too tired tonight to get really creative.

Brown one pound of ground beef. I used 1 1/2 pounds just to make the sandwiches a bit more filling. I worked on the buns while my meat was cooking.

Once the beef is browned and drained, mix in one cup of spaghetti sauce (I use more like one and a half cups since I use more meat), one tablespoon of garlic powder, and one tablespoon Italian seasoning. By the way, that is one of my favorite seasonings. Yum.

Spoon the beef into the hoagie "boats" (which should be on a large cookie sheet).

Next, mix 1 cup ricotta cheese (I use the part skim), 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan (favorite cheese of mine), 1/2 cup of Mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Cheddar (I use low fat on any cheese I can). Top the meat filling with the cheese.

Loosely cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes at 350. Take the pan out of the oven. Mix together 1/4 cup of both Mozzarella and Cheddar and sprinkle on top. Return to the oven for just a couple more minutes to melt. Then enjoy.

I didn't involve the kids tonight due to time constraints, but it would be a fun recipe to cook with kids.

Oh, these do reheat well.

This will be on my Teacher Appreciation Menu this year since it is easy to make ahead...

And yes, I know it is called Lasagna in a Bun but there are no noodles actually involved. :)

Happy cooking!
Reba

Print version:

Ingredients

8 sub or hoagie buns

1 pound ground beef (because of the size of our family, I used two)

1 cup spaghetti sauce (I doubled due to beef amount)

1 tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning (it ended up being one of my favorite parts!)

1 cup ricotta cheese (I did use light)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan (I used shredded...it is a favorite of mine)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used 2%)

1 cup shredded mozzarella (I use the part skim kind)



Directions

1. Cut an "oval" around the tops of the buns. Hollow out centers, leaving 1/4 inch thick shell. Discard tops and centers or save. We are going to visit the duck park with ours. :)

2. Brown ground beef, drain.

3. Add spaghetti sauce, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to ground beef in a skillet.

4. Cook 4-5 minutes until heated through.

5. Meanwhile, combine ricotta, Parmesan, and half of cheddar and Mozzarella cheese. Mix well.

6. Spoon meat sauce into buns; top with cheese mixture.

7. Place on a baking sheet. Cover loosely with foil.

8. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Return to the oven for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts.