Last week when I made the lasagna stuffed spaghetti squash I tried to keep things nice and light and healthy but I could not help but think about doing something similar only a bit naughtier, a hot melted cheesy lasagna dip! I am a huge fan of dips, especially when they have plenty of hot melted cheese and since lasagna is one of my favourite meals I knew that a lasagna dip was sure to be amazing! The basic idea behind this dip was to use the layers of a lasagna in a dip including a base of cheese and a quick, easy and tasty tomato meat sauce all topped off with plenty of melted mozzarella! My mom always made lasagna with cottage cheese for the cheese layer so I am rather partial to that but ricotta or even cream cheese would also work well. For the tomato based meat sauce I kept things lighter and healthy going with turkey for the meat and I packed the sauce with plenty of flavour! I have to say that this dip is truly spectacular and it really does remind me of lasagna, though it is a lot easier to make and perfect for enjoying while watching the game!
You really cannot go wrong with a hot melted cheese dip with all of the flavours of lasagna!
Lasagna Dip
All of the flavours of lasagna in a hot cheesy dip with no regrets!
ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup lasagna tomato sauce (see below)
- 1 cup low fat cottage cheese or ricotta or cream cheese
- 1 cup partially skim mozzarella, shredded
directions
- Cook the turkey, add the tomato sauce and simmer until it thickens a bit, about 3-5 minutes.
- Spread the cottage cheese over the bottom of a baking dish, followed by the sauce and finally the mozzarella.
- Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until the top is a light golden brown and the sides are bubbling, about 15-20 minutes.
Option: Use ground beef or Italian sausage instead of ground turkey or omit the meat entirely.
Option: Use marinara sauce or your favourite tomato sauce instead of making the lasagna sauce from scratch.
Lasagna Sauce
A simple and tasty tomato sauce that is perfect for pasta, pizzas, lasagna, etc.
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed (optional)
- 1 (15 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning or oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon basil, chopped (optional)
directions
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the onion and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and fennel and cook until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, italian seasoning, bay leaf, paprika, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper, bring to a boil, reduce the heat, simmer until until it thickens, about 5 minutes, and then mix in the basil and remove from heat.
Option: Add one 2 inch piece of parmesan rind to the sauce while it simmers.
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This is so perfect for holiday entertaining! YUM!
It is only 8am but I want this now, yum! Love the cheesy goodness.
Looking delicious! Can't wait to try!
woah, is it appropriate to have this for breakfast?!
Loving all that cheese in this fun dip!
Oh my GAWsh!
Hav Mercy.. That looks too good for words..
im dying looking at that first pic
this sounds oh so yummy!!!
Hellooooooo! Perfect dip for this cold weather! and all that cheese!!!
WOW, this looks so tempting.
Adding this recipe to my list of food to prepare in next week.
Oh YUM, this looks scrumdilious! 😉
Shuuuuuut.your.face.
I could easily consume enough of this in one sitting to be a meal
oh holy h*ll, you are killing me! I'd eat this with a spoon.
Lasagna dip is a very good idea. Instead of pasta, garlic bread. It would be nice with a cold iced tea or lemonade.
Holy mouthwatering dip! This looks SO delicious, Kevin. What a fun and creative dip for parties!
Oh yummmmmmm!!! Can't wait to try this!!! Thank you, Kevin!!
Have enjoyed several of your recipes and this one looks to be equally good. Have always wanted comments to be from those who have actually tried it and can give any honest appraisal versus "looks great". Yet here I am doing the same (sorry)! Just a thought for blog-commenters.
Wow Kevin! This dip of yours looks pretty darn awesome! We did lasagne from scratch one year and we really enjoyed the outcome http://www.purplegoo.ca/index.php/making-lasagna/ have you made it from scratch before? Good luck if you try it!
Look at all that cheesy deliciousness!
mmmm this looks amazing!
oh wow…i just cant look at this picture….looks yummy! thanks for sharing! 🙂
http://thestoryofayna.blogspot.com/
I honestly want to stuff my face in this dip right now at midnight!
Kim: I have not tried making lasagne noodles from scratch yet but I have made other noodles. I will definitely have to try!
hmm looks delish!just want to make a vege version =)
Sounds and looks scrumptious, perfect now the colder weathers moving in.
Kevin AMAZING!!! The recipe and your images. Stunning. That melty cheese and those strings are just jumping off the page. Pinned!
I think I need this in my life right now. Yum!!
This looks amazing! Although I would have to do something about the tomato sauce, since I can't have it.
Well we had cream cheese with chives in it and Classico Italian sausage pasta sauce(half a jar) and monterey jack cheese… served with veggies: broccoli, red and green bell peppers and mushrooms and Beanitos white bean cheese chips…It was delicious!!! I gave each of us a small bowl of dip and a medium one of veggies, I could imagine making it in small bowls to serve, so it would still look picture perfect for each one. Thanks!
Omg! What an amazing dip idea 😀
I really wish this could come in a low sodium version, I'm practically drooling. Looks amazing!
Adding to my Super Bowl menu!
What do you recommend serving it with??
Anonymous: I like to serve it with garlic rub crostini but crackers are also good.
Thank you Kevin! I was thinking maybe French bread or even the Texas toast style garlic bread thanks for sharing! I will be making this tomorrow for game day let you know how it turns out 🙂
Whoa!!! I have homemade lasagna sauce in the freezer. On the next home movie date, I will cook this. Awesome. Thanks for the share!
My mom always used cottage cheese in her lasagna. I never knew it was made with ricotta until an adult.
echoamy: My mom always made lasagna with cottage cheese as well!
This recipe was a huge hit at my husband's family Christmas party. I know that the recipe says that balsamic vinegar is optional, but I would plead for everyone to include that ingredient. In my opinion it added a wonderful flavor to the sauce. It was delicious! Thanks for the recipe!
I made this as an appetizer for Christmas dinner. It was a huge hit! I added some fresh spinach, wilted into my sauce, and used ricotta instead of cottage cheese. I recommend using a high quality pizza mozza for extra stringy cheese.
Unknown: I'm glad you enjoyed it! This is definitely one of my favourite dips!
Hi Kevin!! I'm a perfessioal chef, and I find myself making this dip every month either for my family or someone else. I have fallen deeply in love with it. Thank you!!!
Hi Kevin!! I'm a perfessioal chef, and I find myself making this dip every month either for my family or someone else. I have fallen deeply in love with it. Thank you!!!
Julie, ANYTHING is perfect for breakfast if you like it!
We made this as part of a fondue party. It was really good. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
This was super easy and tasty! You could almost make it your meal! Loved it!
I’, glad you like it! (I like to make it my meal! 🙂