Why You’ll Love This Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna
If you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food mashup, you’ve just hit the jackpot with this Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna. I mean, who doesn’t love the idea of combining two family favorites—juicy cheeseburgers and layered lasagna—into one incredible dish?
You’ll appreciate how this recipe transforms ordinary lasagna into something extraordinary with savory ground beef, crispy turkey bacon, and three kinds of cheese.
The smoky paprika adds that backyard grill flavor without the hassle. Plus, it’s perfect for meal prep and feeds a crowd.
Trust me, even your pickiest eaters will be asking for seconds of this brilliant culinary mashup.
What Ingredients are in Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna?
This isn’t just any ordinary lasagna—it’s what happens when your favorite cheeseburger and a classic Italian dish have a delicious culinary baby. The ingredient list might seem long at first glance, but most of these items are probably already hanging out in your pantry or refrigerator. And trust me, the combination of savory beef, smoky bacon, and three kinds of cheese creates something so mouthwatering you’ll wonder why you haven’t been making lasagna this way your whole life.
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 6 strips turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (24 oz) pasta sauce
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 9 lasagna noodles, cooked al dente
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste buds or whatever you have on hand. Want to make it a bit healthier? You could swap in ground turkey instead of beef, or add some finely chopped veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms to the sauce. And while the recipe calls for turkey bacon, you could absolutely use regular bacon for an even richer flavor. The smoked paprika is kind of non-negotiable though—it’s the secret ingredient that gives this dish that authentic “just off the grill” cheeseburger flavor without firing up the barbecue.
How to Make This Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna
Let’s get cooking, shall we? Start by crisping up those 6 strips of turkey bacon in a large skillet until they’re perfectly done.
Remove them from the pan, crumble them into bite-sized pieces, and set half aside for later (trust me, you’ll want those crispy bits for the top).
In that same skillet—why waste all that delicious bacon flavor?—brown 1 pound of lean ground beef along with 1 small finely chopped onion until the meat is no longer pink.
Toss in 3 cloves of minced garlic and let it cook for just another minute until fragrant.
Anyone else think the smell of garlic cooking might be one of the best kitchen aromas in existence?
Now it’s time to build that incredible sauce that’s going to make your taste buds think they’re biting into an actual cheeseburger.
Drain any excess fat, then stir in your 24-ounce can of pasta sauce, 14.5-ounce can of drained diced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika, and half of your crumbled turkey bacon.
Let this mixture simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing all those flavors to get friendly with each other.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
While that’s happening, mix together 2 cups of ricotta cheese with 1 large egg in a separate bowl—this creates that creamy layer that makes lasagna so irresistible.
Time for assembly!
Layer your sauce, 9 cooked al dente lasagna noodles, and that ricotta mixture in a sheet pan, adding generous sprinkles of your cheese trinity: 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, 1 cup of shredded cheddar, and ½ cup of grated Parmesan.
Repeat these layers, finishing with a final blanket of cheese and those reserved bacon crumbles on top.
Bake until bubbly and golden, usually about 25-30 minutes at 375°F.
Once it’s out of the oven, garnish with those 2 sliced green onions for a fresh pop of color and flavor.
Let it rest for about 10 minutes before cutting—I know it’s tempting to dive right in, but that little bit of patience means your slices will hold together beautifully.
Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna Substitutions and Variations
Now that you’ve mastered the basic recipe, we can explore all the delicious ways to make this sheet pan wonder your own.
For a spicier version, add diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to the meat mixture. Not a fan of turkey bacon? Regular bacon works perfectly, or skip it altogether.
Vegetarians can substitute plant-based ground meat and skip the bacon.
The cheese options are endless. Try pepper jack for heat, smoked gouda for depth, or provolone for stretchy goodness.
I’ve even used dairy-free cheeses when cooking for my lactose-intolerant cousin, with surprisingly tasty results.
What to Serve with Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna
Pairing the right side dishes with this bacon cheeseburger sheet pan lasagna elevates your meal from good to absolutely memorable.
I love serving a simple arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the richness of the lasagna. The peppery greens and bright citrus provide perfect balance.
Garlic bread is another no-brainer, perfect for sopping up extra sauce.
Or try roasted broccoli sprinkled with parmesan—the charred edges complement the smoky bacon in the main dish.
For drinks, an ice-cold beer or Italian soda works wonders.
My family goes crazy for this combo, always scraping their plates clean.
Final Thoughts
While combining two comfort food favorites might seem indulgent, this bacon cheeseburger sheet pan lasagna delivers everything you could want in a hearty family meal.
I’ve found it’s the perfect solution for those evenings when you can’t decide between Italian night or burger night—why choose when you can have both?
The layers of savory beef, crispy bacon, and gooey cheese transform traditional lasagna into something special.
Trust me, your dinner table will fall silent except for the occasional “mmm” as everyone digs in. It’s become my go-to when I need a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that still feels like I put in extra effort.
Bacon Cheeseburger Sheet Pan Lasagna
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cook turkey bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Remove, crumble into pieces, and set half aside for topping.
- In the same skillet, brown ground beef and chopped onion until meat is no longer pink.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Drain excess fat, then add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, and half of the crumbled bacon. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a separate bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Layer the sheet pan with sauce, lasagna noodles, and ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat layers, finishing with cheese and reserved bacon crumbles on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
