Skillet Lasagna

Our Skillet Lasagna recipe is the quickest and easiest way to cook a layer-less lasagna entirely on the stovetop. A comforting, family-friendly meal packed with authentic Italian flavor and traditional ingredients, simply simmered in one pan.

Easy One Pan Lasagna

Our recipe for Skillet Lasagna is my latest and greatest way to cook comfort food, skillet-style! With mixed up “layers” of ground beef, sausage, noodles, sauce, and cheese, this shortcut stovetop lasagna delivers all the satisfaction of the classic dish without sacrificing flavor.

This quick lasagna recipe requires slowly simmering the sauce, boiling the noodles, and assembling each layer with care, all before it even makes it to the oven! But let’s be real, not everyone has time for that type of cooking! Sometimes we just want lasagna fast for nights we’re feeling lazy! And who wants to wash a pile of pots and pans?

This easy Skillet Lasagna may be less labor-intensive, but it still has the same sentiments of love! It combines all the classic baked lasagna components you love and serves them as a layer-less mixture in a one-pot meal. 

Skillet Lasagna Ingredients

• Lean ground beef: I used an 80%-20% blend of ground beef for this recipe. Ground pork or ground turkey are great substitutions for the ground beef.
• Sweet Italian sausage: Its seasoned, slightly sweet, and savory profile complements the ground beef.
• Minced garlic: Feel free to use fresh garlic cloves if you prefer.
• Lasagna noodles: Creates a lasagna-like texture while being skillet-friendly.
• Pasta sauce: Use your favorite store-bought brand of marinara sauce, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, or make your own homemade sauce from scratch.
• Water
• Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs, like oregano, basil, and thyme to fill the dish with Italian flavors.
• Crushed red pepper flakes: Feel free to add red pepper flakes for a bit of heat if you like a little kick to your sauce.
• Ricotta cheese: Contributes creaminess and a mild, tangy flavor to mimic traditional lasagna layers. If you’re looking for a lower-fat or higher-protein option, you can replace the ricotta with small curd cottage cheese or even plain yogurt.
• Parmesan cheese: I prefer freshly shredded parmesan cheese, but store-bought pre-shredded parmesan can be substituted. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose and is not as creamy as freshly shredded cheese.
• Kosher salt
• Fresh cracked black pepper
• Mozzarella cheese: I prefer to use freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, but store-bought pre-shredded mozzarella can be used. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with cellulose and is not as creamy as freshly shredded cheese.
• Minced fresh basil: Provides a fresh, aromatic finish. Fresh chopped parsley Fresh basil would make a great alternative to the fresh chopped basil. A combination of both basil and parsley would also be a great garnish.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

1. Cook The Meat Mixture: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef and ground sausage until the meat is no longer pink. Drain any excess grease and return to the skillet. Add the garlic and continue to cook until fragrant.
2. Bring To A Boil: Stir in the broken lasagna noodles, pasta sauce, water, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cover the skillet with a lid and let the sauce come to a low boil.
3. Simmer The Sauce: Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 to 35 minutes.
4. Make The Cheese Mixture: Stir together the ricotta cheese, parmesan, salt and pepper. Drop dollops of the cheese mixture on top of the lasagna.
5. Melt The Mozzarella: Sprinkle the mozzarella over the cheese mixture and cover the skillet until melted and bubbly.
6. Serve: Garnish and serve while hot. Enjoy!

Do I need to boil my lasagna noodles?

No, you do not need to boil your noodles in advance. Add the noodles directly to the sauce and allow them to cook in the covered skillet until they are al dente. They will continue to cook while you complete the recipe.

Serving Suggestions

Lasagna skillet recipes are best served right away because the noodles will continue to absorb the liquid the longer they sit. Serve your one-pot lasagna with some Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread to sop up the sauce and our copycat Olive Garden Salad on the side.

Tips & Variations

• More Meat Options: You can use a full pound of sweet Italian sausage instead of making a ½ beef ½ sausage mixture. Or use my homemade meatballs, crumbled or sliced, for an extra hearty version.
• Stop The Sticking: Make sure to stir the stove-top lasagna often to keep the noodles from sticking. Add up to ½ cup of water if the lasagna becomes too thick or begins to dry out.
• Vegetarian Version: You can use lentils instead of meat, or leave the meat out entirely, and bulk up your lasagna with a mix of vegetables, like zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, or any of your favorites. 
• No Lasagna Noodles: No lasagna noodles? No problem! Simply use some bowtie pasta or another pasta of your choice. It will make it more like a skillet lasagne casserole but taste just as delicious!

Proper Storage

• To Store: Once the Lasagna has cooled, place it in an airtight container and store it in your fridge for up to 3 days.
• To Freeze: If you want to freeze the entire meal for later, allow the lasagna to cool and put it in a sealed, airtight container in the freezer. It can stay frozen for up to 2 months. Allow the skillet lasagna to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating and serving.
• To Reheat: When you are ready to eat, place it in a skillet and bring it to a boil. Cover and let it simmer for 10 minutes (stirring occasionally) or until heated through.

More Easy Lasagna Recipes

• Crockpot Lasagna
• Taco Lasagna
• Lasagna Rollups

If you tried this Skillet Lasagna Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!!!