How to Freeze Lasagna (+ Lasagna Recipes)

While you’re preparing a lasagna for dinner, you might as well make a second to freeze for later! In this post, I’ll explain How to Freeze Lasagna as well as how to thaw and reheat frozen lasagna. 

Why Bother Freezing Lasagna? 

Lasagna is a time-consuming dish to make, but if you’re already making one for dinner this week it’s worth making a second one to freeze for later. 

Having a homemade frozen lasagna in the freezer is great to have on busy nights when you don’t have time to cook or you’re under the weather. Or, if you have older kids, it’s nice to have lasagna frozen and ready to be baked when they’re home alone for an evening! 

Whatever your reasons for wanting to know the best way to freeze lasagna, I can guarantee that Future You will thank Past You for being so prepared! 

Can You Freeze Lasagna? 

Before we delve into the main topic of this post — how to freeze, thaw, and reheat lasagna — I want to make it crystal clear that, YES, you can freeze lasagna! When I make lasagna, I always like to make an extra lasagna for the freezer.

Lasagna can be frozen baked or unbaked, and whole or in slices. I go into much more detail about freezing lasagna in the post below.  

Tools Needed for Freezing Lasagna 

Freezing lasagna is very simple, but you do need some specific tools to freeze it correctly. You don’t want it to develop freezer burn, do you? 

Here are the tools you’ll need to freeze lasagna: 

• Vacuum sealer and bags: Storing lasagna in airtight bags helps prevent freezer burn. 
• Disposable foil pans: You’ll need either vacuum bags or disposable foil pans. I outline the pros and cons of each in the section below titled “How to Freeze Lasagna.” 
• Parchment paper: I prefer lining my baking pans to make transferring the frozen lasagna easier. 
• Labeling supplies: Always label frozen lasagna with the date you made it, plus any additional instructions required for baking it later. 

How to Freeze Lasagna 

You can freeze lasagna a few different ways: whole, in slices, or as lasagna rolls. You also need to decide whether you’ll be freezing the lasagna baked or unbaked. 

No matter how you freeze the lasagna, make sure to label and date it. You’ll also want to add instructions to the frozen lasagna so you know what steps you need to take to eat it later. 

The below is simply a quick summary of the different ways you can freeze your favorite homemade lasagna recipe. Check out the full instructions in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Freezing a whole lasagna 

You can freeze a whole lasagna before or after it’s been baked. 

I prefer freezing whole lasagnas in vacuum bags rather than baking pans. Baking pans take up a lot of space in the freezer, plus I can’t use them when they’re holding frozen lasagna! 

If freezing an unbaked lasagna: 

1. Line your baking pan with parchment paper. Be sure to take the parchment paper up the sides of the pan to make removing the lasagna later much easier. 
2. Assemble the lasagna in the lined baking dish as the recipe instructs.
3. Cover the pan with foil, then freeze until completely firm (this could take up to 3 hours). 
4. Once firm, lift the lasagna out of the pan using the parchment paper. 
5. Transfer the frozen whole lasagna to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze. 

If freezing a baked lasagna:

1. Line a baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhand. 
2. Assemble and bake the lasagna as instructed.
3. Let the lasagna cool completely, then cover with foil and freeze until firm. 
4. Once firm, lift the lasagna out of the pan using the parchment paper. 
5. Transfer the frozen whole lasagna to a vacuum seal bag, label, and freeze.

Tip: If you don’t have vacuum seal bags, I recommend freezing the entire lasagna in a disposable foil pan. Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. 

• There are 9×13 size pans if you want to freeze a casserole and individual sized foil pans for personal sized servings.

Freezing slices of lasagna 

If you plan on freezing individual slices of lasagna, you’ll have to bake it first. 

1. Assemble and bake the lasagna as instructed. 
2. Let the lasagna cool completely, then slice into individual servings. 
3. Transfer each slice to a freezer bag or container. 
4. OR, wrap each slice in plastic wrap and then in foil before sealing inside a freezer bag. 
5. Label and freeze. 

Freezing lasagna rolls 

Freezing lasagna rolls is very simple! You can freeze lasagna rolls just like you would an entire lasagna (baked or unbaked), or you can bake the rolls and freeze them as individual servings. 

Follow the instructions listed above to freeze either an entire pan of lasagna rolls or individual servings. 

How Long Can You Freeze Lasagna? 

If stored properly, lasagna can be frozen for up to three months. After three months, the lasagna will still be safe to eat, but the chances of it developing freezer burn will increase. 

If a frozen lasagna develops freezer burn, you can still reheat it. Just note that the texture of the noodles and sauce may be affected. 

Freezing Baked vs. Unbaked Lasagna 

As I mentioned above, you need to decide whether you’ll be freezing your lasagna before or after you bake it. The method you choose will determine the best way to freeze lasagna. 

Can you freeze uncooked lasagna? Yes! I actually prefer assembling and freezing lasagna prior to baking it. When you freeze uncooked lasagna, you must thaw it before baking it. 

Can you freeze cooked lasagna? Yes, but I typically avoid freezing cooked lasagnas as the texture of the noodles and cheese often changes once frozen. However, cooking the lasagna first lets you freeze individual slices, which might be a better fit for your lifestyle. 

How to Thaw Frozen Lasagna 

The best way to thaw frozen lasagna — whether you froze it whole, in slices, or as rolls — is to place it in the fridge. If you froze the lasagna in a vacuum bag, transfer it to a baking pan before defrosting it! This way, it can go straight from the fridge and into the oven. 

If you’re wondering how long to thaw frozen lasagna, I recommend putting it in the fridge overnight, or for up to 8 hours. 

There’s no good way to quickly defrost a frozen lasagna, I’m afraid. And if you do try to defrost it quickly, I worry that the cheese and noodles will change texture.

How to Reheat Frozen Lasagna 

Reheating frozen lasagna is the easiest part of this entire process! 

1. Defrost the lasagna as instructed above. 
2. Set the lasagna out on your counter for about 25 minutes to come to room temperature. 
3. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375ºF. 
4. If you froze the lasagna in a pan (either baked or unbaked), remove the plastic wrap and foil. 
5. Seal the pan with a new layer of foil (but no plastic wrap!). 
6. Bake covered for about 1 hour, then uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Cook time may vary depending on how large your lasagna is or how deep the pan is.

Tip: To reheat individual slices or individual lasagna rolls, follow the instructions above but bake for about 30 minutes total instead. 

Can You Cook a Frozen Unbaked Lasagna Without Thawing it First? 

Yes, cooking frozen lasagna in the oven is definitely an option, but note that the bake time will be significantly increased. 

The lasagna will likely need closer to 90 minutes in the oven, but precise cook times will vary depending on how deep your pan is, how many layers your lasagna has, etc. 

Lasagna Freezes So Well!

Keep this tutorial in mind so that next time you need an easy meal, you’ll be able to pull a casserole dish of lasagna out of the freezer!

Did like the step-by-step instructions for freezing individual portions and leftover lasagna? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this tutorial.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your favorite lasagna recipes!

More Freezing Tutorials: 

Knowing how to freeze soup and which soups freeze well makes meal prep a breeze! In this post, I share the best ways to freeze soup, plus how to defrost soup and which soups you can and can’t freeze.

Freezing spinach is really simple, and handy if you would like to have extra vegetables stored in your freezer. Come learn all about the 4 different ways I like to freeze spinach and several ideas for what to make with frozen spinach!

Cookie dough freezes extremely well and is the perfect sweet treat to keep stashed in your freezer to instantly satisfy those sweet tooth cravings. Here’s how to freeze cookie dough and bake it later. 

Freezing cheese extends its shelf life and is easy to thaw for future recipes. This guide explains how to freeze cheese, how long frozen cheese lasts in the freezer, and which cheeses can actually be frozen.

Freezing muffins is a great idea if you need quick breakfasts or snacks throughout the week and want to prep them in advance. This post explains how to freeze muffins, as well as provides thawing instructions and 15 easy muffin recipes.

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