Kirbie's Cravings

One Skillet Lasagna

This easy pasta recipe has all the best ingredients in a lasagna, but is made much faster. It’s a one-skillet lasagna recipe that you make on the stove and is so easy and comforting, especially when it’s cold outside. Lasagna noodles, sauce and cheese cooked together in one pan means there’s less to prep and less to clean-up. If you love lasagna but don’t want all the hassle this easy lasagna recipe is for you.

photo of skillet lasagna being scooped out of the pan

 

We’re pretty lucky with the weather in San Diego but every so often we get a cold snap during the winter, which is very unusual for us. It means I have to cover my fruit trees and other plants so they don’t freeze, but it’s also an excuse to make some of my favorite cozy comfort food like this one-skillet lasagna or carbonara, fajita pasta, macaroni and cheese, and enchilada rice casserole.

Easy Lasagna Recipe

One of the dishes I hardly ever make is a traditional lasagna. I love it, but I usually save it for restaurants and order it when we go out instead of making it home. There’s a lot of cooking involved – you usually have to precook the fillings, sauce and noodles – before it even goes in the oven. It makes a big mess in the kitchen and most recipes I see feed a lot of people. Since it’s just the two of us we don’t need all the leftovers.

This lasagna recipe I’m sharing is the opposite. All of the components cook in one skillet at the same time and you don’t have to spend time assembling the noodles and fillings in a baking dish. It makes just four servings which is enough for dinner with leftovers for the next day (instead of the next week!). It’s my favorite way to make lasagna.

overhead photo of skillet lasagna

 

Ingredients

  • I used lean ground turkey but you can also use lean ground beef or Italian sausage.
  • Minced garlic
  • Salt and pepper
  • Broken lasagna noodles
  • Tomato sauce
  • Water
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
  • Sliced fresh mozzarella

My favorite part of lasagna is the cheese and this skillet lasagna has lots of it. The ricotta cheese is stirred into the sauce and the shredded mozzarella and fresh mozzarella cheese are layered on top so the skillet lasagna has a cheesy topping.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

  • In a large skillet, brown and season the ground turkey with the garlic, salt and pepper.
  • Add the lasagna pieces (I break each noodle into five parts), tomato sauce, and water.
  • Bring the skillet to a boil and cover it with a lid for about 15 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Lift the lid periodically to stir the noodles so they don’t stick together and cook evenly.
  • Once the sauce has thickened and the noodles are tender, add the ricotta cheese and stir it into the sauce.
  • Spread the shredded cheese over the top and place the sliced fresh mozzarella in an even layer. Cover with the lid for a couple of minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Can I use a different kind of pasta?

I’ve only tested this skillet lasagna recipe with lasagna noodles. One-pot dishes can be a little tricky because you need the right ratio of liquid to pasta in order for it to turn out right. So, I can’t say another type of pasta will work because different pasta shapes need different cook times.

Can I substitute jarred marinara sauce (store-bought sauce)?

I have not tested this recipe with store-bought sauce, but I think it would work fine. I recommend using a sauce that is the same consistency of canned tomato sauce and be sure to include the water, too. If your pasta sauce is very thick it may not work right because there won’t be enough liquid for the pasta to absorb.

If I had my way, I’d stay huddled in bed all day when it gets cold but dinners like this one-skillet lasagna makes it a whole lot easier to deal with it.

photo of lasagna on a plate

Want more easy dinner ideas? Be sure to check out my One Pot Dinners recipe round-up.

photo of skillet lasagna being scooped out of the pan

One Skillet Lasagna

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian
This easy pasta dish combines all the best ingredients in lasagna but is made much faster with just one skillet over the stove.
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • 22 oz lean Italian seasoned ground turkey (see note)
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz lasagna noodles broken/divided into 5 pieces for each one
  • 12 oz tomato sauce
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
  • oz fresh mozzarella divided into tablespoon-sized chunks

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, cook ground turkey and garlic over medium-high heat until turkey is browned. Add salt and pepper to season as needed. If you're using a fattier meat, you may need to drain excess oil.
  • Add broken lasagna pieces. Pour tomato sauce on top. Pour in water. Your water level should be just a tad below the top of the noodles line but once everything begins to cook and bubble, the noodles should sink in.
  • Bring water to a boil. Then turn it down to a simmer. Keep the lid mostly on, cook for about 15 minutes, or until noodles are soft. Occasionally, check on the noodles and stir a few times, pressing down any noodles not touching the water.
  • After 15 minutes, remove the lid. If there is still a lot of liquid, cook for a few more minutes with lid off until sauce thickens. Add in ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella and stir into the sauce. Turn off heat. Place fresh mozzarella chunks evenly across surface. Cover with lid and let mozzarella melt (you should have enough heat still even with stove off). Serve while warm.

Notes

  • I like to keep mine a little healthier with turkey sausage, but you can also use ground beef or Italian sausage. 
  • Recipe adapted from Kevin and Amanda

Nutrition

Serving: 0.25of recipe, Calories: 722kcal, Carbohydrates: 51.9g, Protein: 55.8g, Fat: 31.5g, Saturated Fat: 13.9g, Sodium: 1381.8mg, Fiber: 3.1g, Sugar: 5.6g, NET CARBS: 49

The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Mention @KirbieCravings and tag #kirbiecravings!

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2 comments on “One Skillet Lasagna”

  1. This got an enthousiastic thumbs-up from hubby and sons. “Make more next time, Mom!” Many thanks for the recipe!