Easy Skillet Lasagna

I am obsessed with this skillet lasagna and I genuinely think it might be the best weeknight dinner hack I’ve ever discovered. All the layers of cheesy, saucy, beefy goodness you love in classic lasagna — but made entirely in one pan, no boiling noodles separately, no layering in a baking dish, no waiting an hour for it to bake. It is ready in 40 minutes flat and the cleanup is almost nothing.

I started making this on nights when I was craving lasagna but definitely did not have the time or energy for the full production. Now honestly it has kind of replaced regular lasagna in our house because it’s just so much more practical. (some links here are affiliate links, which just means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you)

The One Pan Magic

The trick here is that you break the lasagna noodles into pieces and cook them right in the sauce. The starch from the noodles actually thickens the sauce slightly as they cook, which makes everything taste even more cohesive and rich. Then you just drop spoonfuls of ricotta on top, pile on the mozzarella, and let it melt into the most glorious cheesy situation.

A large deep skillet with a lid is the one piece of equipment you need for this. It needs to be deep enough to hold all the sauce and noodles and wide enough that the steam can cook everything evenly. Mine is 12 inches and works perfectly.

Meat Options and Mix-Ins

Ground beef is classic and delicious here, but Italian sausage takes this to another level. The fennel and spice in the sausage adds so much flavor. You can also do half beef half sausage which is my personal favorite. For a lighter version, ground turkey works great too — just add a little extra Italian seasoning to compensate.

Want to sneak in some vegetables? Diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or spinach all work beautifully here. Add them when you cook the onion and they’ll be perfectly tender by the time the noodles are done.

Easy Skillet Lasagna

All the cheesy, saucy goodness of classic lasagna made in one pan in under 45 minutes — no boiling noodles separately required.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American, Italian

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 24oz jar marinara sauce
• 1.5 cups water or beef broth
• 8 lasagna noodles broken into pieces
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella divided
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• salt and pepper to taste

Method

 

1. Brown ground beef and onion in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat, breaking up meat. Drain excess fat. Add garlic and Italian seasoning, cook 1 minute.
2. Stir in marinara sauce and water. Bring to a simmer. Nestle broken lasagna noodle pieces into the sauce, making sure they are submerged.
3. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until noodles are tender.
4. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta over the top. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan.
5. Cover and cook 5 more minutes until cheese is melted. Serve directly from the skillet.

Notes

Use a deep skillet with a lid. Breaking the noodles into pieces helps them cook evenly in the sauce without any precooking.

Make It Ahead

This reheats beautifully the next day — maybe even better because the noodles have absorbed even more of that sauce overnight. Add a small splash of water when reheating to keep it from drying out. It’s also great for meal prep if you want to make a big batch at the start of the week.

This is one of those recipes I come back to constantly and I genuinely think you’re going to love it. Cozy, cheesy, satisfying — it checks every single box.

xo, Pam