Easy Skillet Lasagna is made with ground beef, tender lasagna noodles, tomato sauce, and three kinds of cheese for a delicious, comforting dinner made right in one pan.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
If you love traditional lasagna but don’t feel like spending all that time layering everything together, this Easy Skillet Lasagna is for you. It has all the same delicious flavors but comes together in one skillet with very little effort.
The lasagna noodles cook right in the sauce, soaking up all that wonderful flavor, and everything gets finished with creamy ricotta, Parmesan, and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
Why You'll Love It
- One-pan meal: Everything cooks together in one skillet, making cleanup a breeze.
- Easy to make: No boiling noodles separately or layering ingredients.
- Classic lasagna flavor: All the delicious flavors of traditional lasagna without the extra work.
- Family friendly: A hearty, cheesy, comforting dinner that’s always a hit.
INGREDIENTS
You can find the full ingredients list with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
- Ground Beef: Adds delicious, hearty flavor and makes this meal nice and filling.
- Onion: Adds a little sweetness and extra flavor to the beef.
- Garlic: Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce a wonderful homemade flavor.
- Marinara Sauce: Creates the rich, flavorful base for the lasagna.
- Beef Broth: Helps the lasagna noodles cook directly in the skillet while adding extra flavor.
- Lasagna Noodles: Broken into smaller pieces so they cook evenly and are easy to serve.
- Ricotta Cheese: Adds that classic creamy lasagna filling.
- Parmesan Cheese: Gives the dish a delicious salty, cheesy flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully over the top for the perfect cheesy finish.
- Italian Seasoning: Adds a wonderful blend of herbs throughout the dish.
- Oregano: Gives the ricotta mixture a little extra Italian flavor.
- Salt, Pepper, and Garlic Powder: Simple seasonings that bring everything together.
- Fresh Basil or Parsley: An optional garnish for a little freshness and color.
HOW TO MAKE EASY SKILLET LASAGNA
Here’s how to make this amazing recipe. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
- In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if necessary. Season the beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently. Pour in the marinara sauce and beef broth. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Break the uncooked lasagna noodles into roughly 2” pieces and add them to the skillet. Gently stir and press the noodles down until they’re covered as much as possible by the sauce and broth mixture. Raise the heat until the sauce begins to gently bubble, then reduce it to medium-low. Cover the skillet and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the noodles are tender. Add a splash of broth if the sauce becomes too thick before the noodles finish cooking.
- While the noodles cook, combine the ricotta cheese, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth and well combined. Once the lasagna noodles are tender, gently stir the meat, noodles, and sauce together to evenly distribute everything throughout the skillet.
- Sprinkle the top with additional Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese. Add dollops of the seasoned ricotta mixture evenly over the top. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the ricotta is warmed through. Remove from the heat, let rest for a few minutes, and enjoy!
Pro Tips
- Use a deep skillet: Make sure your skillet is large enough to hold the sauce, noodles, and cheese comfortably. A 12-inch deep skillet with a lid works great.
- Don’t cook the noodles beforehand: The uncooked lasagna noodles will cook directly in the sauce and beef broth.
- Stir occasionally: Give the noodles a gentle stir every few minutes so they don’t stick together or to the bottom of the pan.
- Watch the liquid: If the sauce starts getting too thick before the noodles are tender, add a little more beef broth.
- Let it rest: Allowing the lasagna to sit for about 5 minutes before serving helps the sauce thicken slightly.
Vartiations
- Italian Sausage: Substitute some or all of the ground beef with mild or hot Italian sausage for extra flavor.
- Ground Turkey: Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter option.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in some fresh spinach or sautéed mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- Make It Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat mixture for a little heat.
- Extra Cheesy: Add additional mozzarella or a little shredded provolone for an even cheesier finish.
What To Serve With It
This Easy Skillet Lasagna is delicious served with garlic bread or homemade cheesy breadsticks to soak up all that extra sauce. A simple Caesar salad or roasted vegetables would also make a great side dish.
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftover skillet lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
Reheating: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm in a skillet over low heat with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
Freezer: Allow the lasagna to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Other Easy Pasta Recipes
Nothing is quite as comforting as a nice, big bowl of pasta. I've rounded up all my Best Pasta Recipes so you can find them easily in one place.
Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- ½ Medium Onion, diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (divided)
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 24 Oz Jar Marinara Sauce
- 2 Cups Beef Broth
- 8 Oz Lasagna Sheets
- 1 Cup Ricotta Cheese
- 1 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated (divided)
- ¼ teaspoon Oregano
- 1.5 Cups Mozzarella Cheese, hand shredded
- Fresh Basil or Parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large, deep skillet over medium high heat, brown the ground beef with the diced onion, breaking the meat apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if necessary. Season the beef with salt, pepper, ½ of the garlic powder, and ½ of the Italian seasoning.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring frequently. Pour in the marinara sauce and beef broth. Stir everything together until well combined.
- Break the uncooked lasagna noodles into roughly 2” pieces and add them to the skillet. Gently stir and press the noodles down until they’re covered as much as possible by the sauce and broth mixture. Raise the heat until the sauce begins to gently bubble, then reduce it to medium-low. Cover the skillet and cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the noodles are tender. Add a splash of broth if the sauce becomes too thick before the noodles finish cooking.
- While the noodles cook, combine the ricotta cheese, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, the rest of the Italian seasoning, oregano, salt, pepper, and the rest of the garlic powder in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth and well combined.
- Once the lasagna noodles are tender, gently stir the meat, noodles, and sauce together to evenly distribute everything throughout the skillet.
- Sprinkle the top with additional Parmesan cheese and shredded mozzarella cheese. Add dollops of the seasoned ricotta mixture evenly over the top. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for another 5 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the ricotta is warmed through. Remove from the heat, let rest for a few minutes, and enjoy!
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