If you looking for a delicious Italian dish to make this Christmas, make Olive Garden Fried Lasagna. Easy ingredients makes this recipe so delicious.
Get my Christmas Cookbook Bundle 75%
Take your traditional lasagna recipe to the next level with this Copycat Olive Garden Fried Lasagna Recipe. The lasagna is prepared and folded then breaded and deep fried for a crispy lasagna dish.
We love making copycat recipes. If you love this recipe, try Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli or Crockpot Ground Turkey Lasagna.
Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
This Fried Lasagna is perfect to serve as an appetizer before your Christmas dinner or as a main dish. The lasagna is deep fried to perfection and topped with a delicious marinara sauce for amazing flavor.
My family loves lasagna and this is one of our favorite ways to make it. Layers of cheese on the noodles and then deep fried, makes the perfect Fried Lasagna Recipe.
Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.
Recipe Variations
- Add Meat – Feel free to a add in meat after adding the cheese mixture on the noodles. Cook ground beef, ground turkey, or Italian Sausage to add to the lasagna. You can even mix a combination of the meat to add more flavor.
- Sauces – We used alfredo sauce and marinara sauce to serve with this dish. We like to serve over the top of the fried lasagna but you can also use as a dipping sauce.
- Add Vegetables – This fried lasagna would be delicious with added vegetables. Add in chopped squash, broccoli, or bell peppers to the meat mixture or just layer on the cheese.
- Cheese – Feel free to use different cheeses when making this recipe. We used ricotta cheese but you can also use cottage cheese.
How to Make Fried Lasagna from Olive Garden
For the Lasagna:
- Step 1 – Mix Cheese, seasoning and eggs – In a small mixing bowl, stir together the ricotta, 3 cheese blend, pepper, Italian seasoning and eggs.
Step 2 – Prepare Noodles – Boil the lasagna noodles based on the package instructions. Then rinse the noodles with cold water and trim off the ribboned edges on the noodles.
Step 3 – Spread cheese mixture on noodles – Then spread the cheese mixture onto each noodle and fold each noodle into 2 inch pieces.
Step 4 – Place noodles on baking sheet – Place the prepared noodles on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour.
Step 5 – Dip noodles in egg and bread crumb mixture – Dip the prepared lasagna bundles into the beaten egg mixture and then coat them with the bread crumbs.
Step 6 – Continue for all noodles – Continue this process until all the lasagna bundles are coated with the breading.
Step 7 – Heat Oil – Then heat 2-3 inches of the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or saucepan until it’s approximately 350 degrees F. Fry the lasagna bundles in the hot oil and fry each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- Step 9 – Heat Sauces – When serving, heat the Alfredo sauce and marinara sauce.
- Step 10 – Layer Alfredo Sauce – Then spread the Alfredo sauce on the bottom of a serving plate.
- Step 11 – Place Fried Lasagna in dish – Place the fried lasagna pieces on top and drizzle the marinara sauce on top.
- Step 12 – Serve and Enjoy – Serve immediately while warm and enjoy.
Recipe Tips
- Serve Immediately – These are best served fresh as the breading mixture will get soft as the lasagna sits.
- Cooking Noodles – Cook noodles according to package or al dente. Trim ribbed edges off the cook lasagna noodles.
- Freeze Cheese layered Noodles – After spreading the cheese mixture onto the lasagna noodles, place the baking sheet in the freezer for at least an hour. This helps to easily them dip them in the hot oil to fry them.
- Coating Noodles – After preparing the egg mixture and bread crumb mixture, completely dip the frozen noodles in the mixture. This gives the noodles flavor and makes it fry completely.
- Fried Noodles – Allow the fried noodles to drain on a paper towel lined baking sheet before placing in the serving dish. You can also place on a wire rack to drain in a grease.
- Air Fryer – These fried lasagna can also be air fried. You will still get that crispy texture and reduce the oil on the lasagna.
What to Serve with Fried Lasagna
This fried lasagna can be served with many different things. We like serving this Italian dish with other appetizer prior to serving our Christmas dinner.
- Veggie Tray – Make a vegetable tray to serve as an appetizer for your Christmas dinner. It is light, crunchy and perfect side dish to serve with Fried Lasagna.
- Baked Brie – This ooey, gooey cheesy appetizer is rich, decadent and always is a crowd favorite. Serve with a side of crackers and fruit.
- Olive Garden Toasted Ravioli – This copycat recipe starts with a bag of refrigerated raviolis and they are breaded with simple seasoning. The breading blends bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and flour and then deep fried to perfection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Olive Garden still served Fried Lasagna for lunch and dinner. It is listed on the menu as Lasagna Fritta.
These fried lasagna are best served immediately as the texture of the lasagna will soften as it is stored. You can store in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat the leftovers in the air fryer so the fried lasagna will still have a crispy texture when serving.
More Copycat Recipes
All Recipes
Olive Garden Baked Ziti Recipe
Appetizers
Olive Garden Stuffed Mushrooms
Side dishes
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Recipe
We love this Deep Fried Lasagna Recipe. If you try and make it, please leave us a comment or a star review.
Olive Garden Fried Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
FOR THE LASAGNA:
- 10 Lasagna Noodles
- 15 oz Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese
- 2 cups 3 Cheese Blend parmesan Romano and asiago mixture
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 2 Large Eggs
FOR THE BREADING:
- 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1 Large Egg
- 1/4 cup Milk
FOR FRYING AND SERVING:
- Vegetable Oil for frying
- 1 Jar Alfredo Sauce
- 1 Jar Marinara Sauce
Instructions
FOR THE LASAGNA:
- In a small mixing bowl, stir together the ricotta, 3 cheese blend, pepper, Italian seasoning and eggs.
- Boil the lasagna noodles based on the package instructions. Then rinse the noodles with cold water and trim off the ribboned edges on the noodles.
- Then spread the cheese mixture onto each noodle and fold each noodle into 2 inch pieces.
- Place the prepared noodles on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 1 hour.
FOR BREADING, FRYING AND SERVING:
- In a shallow bowl whisk together the egg and milk and then place the Panko Bread Crumbs in a separate shallow bowl.
- Dip the prepared lasagna bundles into the beaten egg mixture and then coat them with the bread crumbs. Continue this process until all the lasagna bundles are coated with the breading.
- Then heat 2-3 inches of the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or saucepan until it’s approximately 350 degrees F.
- Fry the lasagna bundles in the hot oil and fry each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Remove and place the fried lasagna on a plate lined with paper towels.
- When serving, heat the Alfredo sauce and marinara sauce.
- Then spread the Alfredo sauce on the bottom of a serving plate.
- Place the fried lasagna pieces on top and drizzle the marinara sauce on top.
- Serve immediately while warm and enjoy!