Description
This Easy Cheesy Lasagna Skillet is a quick and delicious one-pan meal that combines broken lasagna noodles with savory ground beef, rich marinara sauce, and three cheeses to create all the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna without the fuss of layering and baking. Ready in just 50 minutes, it’s perfect for a family dinner that’s satisfying and cheesy.
Ingredients
Lasagna
- 9 ounces wavy lasagna noodles, broken
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (plus more to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
Cheese
- 3/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the noodles: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broken lasagna noodles and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining the noodles and setting them aside.
- Brown the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook until the beef is fully browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Sauté garlic and spices: Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the beef in the skillet. Cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, then reduce the heat to medium.
- Add marinara sauce: Pour in the jar of marinara sauce. Stir and let it simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes to marry the flavors.
- Toss in noodles: Add the cooked lasagna noodles to the skillet. Toss to coat them evenly with the sauce. Gradually add the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, tossing to loosen the noodles and blend the sauce until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Add ricotta cheese: Dollop the ricotta cheese over the skillet mixture. Gently fold it in slightly, leaving some creamy pockets of ricotta throughout for a luscious texture.
- Top with mozzarella and parmesan: Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheeses over the entire skillet mixture.
- Melt the cheese: Cover the skillet and reduce heat to low. Cook for 5-10 minutes until the cheese melts completely and becomes bubbly.
- Rest and serve: Let the skillet sit covered for 5 minutes after cooking to allow the flavors to meld and the cheese to set slightly before serving.
Notes
- Use wavy lasagna noodles or broken regular lasagna noodles for the best texture.
- Reserve pasta water helps loosen the sauce and keep the noodles moist without diluting flavor.
- Adjust seasoning to taste once everything is combined, adding salt and pepper if needed.
- For a lighter option, substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave.
