Skillet Lasagna Recipe

This Skillet Lasagna has all the classic flavors you love, including ground beef, crushed tomatoes, noodles, and melted mozzarella. It cooks in one pan in just 30 minutes for $1.92 per serving.

This is the dinner I reach for every time my family is craving lasagna but I do not have an hour to spend in the kitchen — one pan, 30 minutes, and everyone gets the comfort food they are asking for without any of the usual effort. In a house with 8 kids that combination is everything and I know this one pan shortcut is one of the smartest ways to get classic lasagna on the table fast.

After 14 years of developing recipes I know that the one pan dinners are always the most requested on busy weeknights — fast easy and almost no cleanup. If you love easy lasagna recipes like this one you will also love our Lasagna Soup Recipe, Lazy Day Lasagna, and Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna Recipe. They are all budget-friendly, made with simple ingredients, and the kind of comfort food your family will request all week long.

Ingredients

• Ground beef — browned and drained before adding the sauce. Italian sausage gives a richer more flavorful result and ground turkey works as a lighter substitute
• Lasagna noodles — broken into roughly 2-inch pieces before adding to the pan. They cook directly in the sauce — no boiling required. In a pinch, bow-tie pasta or rotini work well too — one of our readers made it with bow-tie pasta and loved the result.
• Olive oil — for browning the beef and vegetables. Any neutral oil works as a substitute
• Onion — diced and cooked with the beef for savory depth throughout the sauce
• Minced garlic — adds bold savory flavor to the sauce. Garlic powder works in a pinch
• Salt and pepper — essential seasoning throughout
• Italian seasoning — adds the classic herb blend that gives this the authentic lasagna flavor. Add red pepper flakes for a little heat
• Crushed tomatoes — the rich tomato base of the sauce. Marinara sauce works as a substitute for a slightly thinner result
• Water — combined with the crushed tomatoes to create enough liquid for the noodles to cook directly in the sauce. Substitute beef or chicken broth for a richer, more flavorful result.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese — melted over the top at the end for that classic lasagna cheese pull
• Ricotta cheese — optional but highly recommended. A spoonful on top of each serving makes this taste exactly like traditional lasagna
• Fresh parsley — sprinkled over the top for color and a fresh herby finish

Carrie’s Tip: Break the lasagna noodles into roughly 2-inch pieces before adding them to the pan. Smaller pieces cook more evenly and are easier to serve, while still giving you noodles in every bite.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

Step 1 – Heat the olive oil in a large cast iron skillet.

Step 2 – Brown the ground beef, onions and garlic together in the pan. Add the salt, pepper and Italian Seasoning.

Step 3 – Cook until the beef is browned and the onions are translucent. Go ahead and drain any excess grease from the pan. 

Step 4 – Pour the crushed tomatoes and water in. Break the lasagna noodles into small pieces and add those too.

Step 5 – Let the mixture come to a boil and cover and turn the heat to low. Continue to cook for 15-20 minutes or until the noodles are tender. 

Step 6 – Top with the shredded cheese and cover again so the cheese can melt. For a browned, bubbly top, place the oven-safe skillet under the broiler for 2-3 minutes instead of covering — watch it closely so the cheese doesn’t burn.

We like to top each bowl with a spoonful of ricotta cheese and a sprinkle of parsley.

Tips for Success

• Use a large deep skillet. The noodles and sauce need room — a skillet that is too small will overflow when the liquid comes to a boil. A 12-inch deep skillet or cast iron pan works best
• Break the noodles into even pieces. Roughly 2-inch pieces cook evenly and fit easily in the pan — very large pieces take longer to cook and are harder to serve
• Keep it covered while the noodles cook. The steam trapped under the lid is what cooks the noodles through — lifting the lid too often lets the steam escape and extends the cook time
• Add extra water if needed. If the sauce gets too thick before the noodles are tender add a splash of water and stir — the noodles absorb liquid as they cook
• Always add the ricotta. It is optional but a spoonful of ricotta on each serving is what makes this taste like actual lasagna instead of just pasta in tomato sauce — do not skip it

Variations and Substitutions

• Swap ground beef for Italian sausage for a richer more flavorful sauce
• Use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter version
• Add a handful of baby spinach in the last 2 minutes of cooking for extra nutrition
• Stir in ¼ cup of cream cheese or mascarpone at the end for an extra creamy sauce
• Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for the topping — a great budget-friendly substitute
• Add sliced mushrooms or diced bell peppers with the onion for extra vegetables
• Swap crushed tomatoes for marinara sauce for a slightly different flavor profile
• Skip the ground beef, sauté extra mushrooms and diced vegetables in its place, and use vegetable broth in place of the water for a still-hearty meatless version.

This Recipe Is More Flexible Than You’d Think – Readers have made this their own in all kinds of ways. Swapping in bow-tie pasta when they were out of lasagna noodles, using ground turkey instead of beef, and even adapting it for the slow cooker. If you don’t have every ingredient exactly as listed, don’t let that stop you — this one is forgiving.

Serving Ideas

• 15 Minutes Stuffed Cheesy Bread– Perfect for dipping into the sauce. 
• Garlic bread – learn how to freeze garlic bread.
• Salad- Use all your favorite veggies and toppings.
• Steamed broccoli in the microwave
• See Side Dishes for Lasagna for more ideas.

Storage and Freezer Instructions

Refrigerator

• Store in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. The noodles will absorb more sauce as they sit so add a splash of water when reheating to loosen everything back up

Freezer

• Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat on the stovetop with a splash of water or marinara sauce to restore the consistency

Reheating

• Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water stirring occasionally until warmed through — microwave in 60-second intervals also works well

Frequently Asked Questions

More Easy Lasagna Recipes

Instant Pot Lasagna Soup

Crock Pot Turkey Lasagna Recipe

Crock Pot Mexican Lasagna Recipe

Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe

This Skillet Lasagna is the dinner I reach for every time my family wants lasagna and I need it on the table fast — all the classic comfort food flavor in one pan for just $1.92 a serving. After 14 years of developing recipes this one pan shortcut is still one of my favorites because it delivers every single time without the effort. If you make it leave a star rating and a comment below — I love hearing whether you added the ricotta and whether your family even noticed it was not the traditional version!