Description
Skillet Lasagna is a quick and delicious one-pan meal that combines the rich flavors of ground beef, Italian sausage, tomato sauce, and a creamy blend of cheeses without the need for baking. With tender broken lasagna noodles simmered directly in the skillet, this hearty dish delivers all the comforting taste of classic lasagna in less than an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Sauce
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- ½ pound sweet Italian sausage, small chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 23.75 ounce jarred pasta sauce
- 1½ cups water
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- â…› teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Pasta
- 9 full size lasagna noodles, broken into small pieces (about 1 to 1 ½ inches)
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- â…“ cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 1¼ cups freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
Instructions
- Cook Meat: In a 10 to 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Use a wooden spoon to break apart the meat and stir often until fully browned and no longer pink.
- Drain Grease and Add Garlic: Drain any excess grease from the skillet, then return the meat to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic. Cook for about one minute until fragrant.
- Add Noodles and Sauce: Stir in the broken lasagna noodles, jarred pasta sauce, water, Italian seasoning, and optional crushed red pepper flakes. Combine thoroughly.
- Simmer Covered: Cover the skillet with a lid and bring the sauce to a low boil. Then reduce heat to medium-low and let it simmer for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring often to prevent the noodles from sticking. Add up to ½ cup more water if the mixture thickens too much or dries out.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine ricotta, shredded Parmesan, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper, stirring well.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Once noodles have softened and the sauce has reduced, drop spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese mixture evenly over the top of the lasagna. Then sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the cheese mixture.
- Melt Cheese: Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet, and cook until the mozzarella cheese has melted and is bubbly, about 5 to 8 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove lid, sprinkle minced fresh basil on top for garnish, and serve hot.
Notes
- Breaking lasagna noodles into smaller pieces allows them to cook thoroughly in the skillet without boiling.
- Stir frequently during simmering to prevent noodles from sticking to the skillet bottom.
- Adding extra water during simmering helps maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
- Use fresh basil for the best flavor, but dried basil can substitute if needed (reduce quantity).
- This skillet lasagna is a convenient alternative to traditional layered baked lasagna, saving time and cleanup.
