Skillet Lasagna Recipe: A Quick, Flavorful Twist on the Classic Favorite
Lasagna is that one comfort food that just brings people together immediately. Maybe it’s the gooey cheese, the rich tomato sauce, or those layers of pasta, but this classic Italian dish never fails to impress. What if I told you there was a way to make it even easier, quicker, and just as delicious? Now there’s the Skillet Lasagna, the one that saves the day-a one-pan wonder that yields all of the flavors of classic lasagna without the fuss and bother of layering and baking for hours on end. Ideal for those busy weeknights, small gatherings, or whenever you crave a hearty meal with much less effort.
We take all the best parts of lasagna-the cheesy goodness, savory meat sauce, and tender noodles-and cook them all in one skillet. This dish is flavorful, satisfying, and quicker than its inspiration. Moreover, cleaning up afterward is much easier. It’s also a great way to reinvent a classic meal and to make it even more accessible.
Ingredients You’ll Need FOR Skillet Lasagna:
This Skillet Lasagna preparation requires some very common and easily available ingredients from any grocery store. What you will need is:
For the Meat Sauce:
1 lb. (450g) Ground Beef (or ground turkey if you prefer a leaner alternative)
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 medium Onion, chopped
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz) Crushed Tomatoes
1 can (6 oz) Tomato Paste
1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
- 1 teaspoon Dried Basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (optional, for a bit of heat)
- Salt and Pepper to taste
For the Lasagna:
- 9-12 Lasagna Noodles (broken into pieces to fit the skillet)
- 1 1/2 cups Ricotta Cheese (or cottage cheese as an alternative)
- 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley (chopped, for garnish)
**Step-by-Step Instructions Skillet Lasagna :
1. Cook the Ground Meat:
Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet, preferably a 12-inch, over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey. Immediately start breaking it into small pieces with a spoon as it browns and cooks through. If browned and cooked, take out excess fat from the skillet if necessary. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
2. Sauté the Aromatics:
Add the chopped onion to the skillet and sauté for 2-3 minutes, till softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook another 30 seconds till fragrant. The mixture of sautéed onions and garlic will create the flavor base for your sauce.
3. Add the Tomato Sauce and Seasonings:
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes-if using-and salt and pepper to taste. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then lower the heat to low. Let the sauce cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes as the flavors meld together. Taste the sauce as it cooks and adjust the seasoning as needed.
4. Prepare the Noodles:
While the sauce is simmering, cook your lasagna noodles. You want to break them into smaller pieces to fit the skillet easily. About 2-3 inches long is perfect. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the broken noodles according to the package directions; usually, it would take 8-10 minutes. Once done, drain and set aside. You can also use no-boil lasagna noodles that will soften as the skillet cooks.
5. Assemble the Skillet Lasagna:
Now the fun part! Sauce is simmering; noodles are done. It’s time to put your lasagna together in this skillet. Lay the cooked noodles on top of the sauce in the skillet, stirring gently until the noodles are well coated in sauce. Dot about half the ricotta cheese in dollops over the noodles, followed by sprinkling half the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over that.
Repeat with the layering: more noodles, the remaining ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheeses. You will end up having two layers of cheesy goodness that will melt and bubble as it cooks .
6. Cook and Melt:
Cover the skillet with a lid or aluminum foil and cook on low heat for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted and the noodles have absorbed the sauce. If using no-boil noodles, you may have to let it cook a bit longer by adding a splash of water or extra tomato sauce to help the noodles soften.
For the last minutes of baking, let the lid off so the top cheese becomes golden in color and slightly crisp. This gives the perfect texture to the dish, from the soft and gooey middle to the slightly crunchy cheesy top.
7. Garnish and Serve:
Skillet Lasagna When the lasagna is hot and bubbly, pull the skillet from the heat. Let it just sit for a few minutes to firm up before sprinkling a bunch of fresh parsley over the top; the color and freshness will be so pretty. Serve straight from the skillet-this will be a meal in-a-skillet that your family and friends will just love.
Tips for the Best Skillet Lasagna:
- Large and wide skillet: So that the noodles will be distributed with the sauce. If your skillet is too small, you would have to adjust the ingredient quantity or make use of a larger pan.
Add Veggies for Added Flavor: Yes, you can add some extra veggies, like chopped spinach, zucchini, or even mushrooms into the meat sauce for added nutrition and flavor. Just sauté them with the onions and garlic.
Make Variations in Meats Used: Although the classic choice is ground beef, ground pork, turkey, or even Italian sausage can give your sauce depth and spice.
Vegetarian-Just don’t use meat; add other vegetables, such as spinach, eggplant, or bell peppers, along with the rich marinara sauce.
- Top with fresh basil or oregano: A sprinkle of fresh herbs just before serving can really lift your skillet lasagna.
- Make ahead: If you are making this for a meal prep or looking to make it in advance, you can make the sauce and noodles the day before. Just assemble in skillet when you’re ready to cook.