Lazy Skillet Lasagna: Easy One-Pan Dinner with Beef & Sausage

Lazy Skillet Lasagna gives you everything you want from classic lasagna without the layers, baking dish, or piles of dirty dishes. Ground beef and Italian sausage simmer in marinara sauce with broken lasagna noodles, and the dish is finished with creamy ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and fresh basil.

Looking for more easy pasta recipes? I have so many quick and easy weeknight dinner recipes. Be sure to browse easy ground beef dinner, easy spaghetti dinner, easy casserole recipe and easy bechamel, and easy weeknight meal on Call Me Pmc.

Lazy Skillet Lasagna

This easy skillet lasagna is a great weeknight dinner when you want something hearty without spending all evening in the kitchen. The noodles cook right in the sauce, so there is no separate pot of boiling water.

Ingredients

For the skillet lasagna

• ground beef
• Italian sausage
• garlic
• lasagna noodles
• pasta sauce
• water
• Italian seasoning
• salt
• black pepper
• mozzarella
• fresh basil

For the cheese topping

• ricotta cheese or pureed cottage cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• salt
• black pepper

Optional: Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes or ground red pepper to the skillet if you like a little heat.

How to Make Lazy Skillet Lasagna

Tips for the Best Skillet Lasagna

Break the noodles into small pieces.
Pieces about 1 to 1½ inches long are easy to eat and cook more evenly.

Stir often.
Because the noodles cook directly in the sauce, they can stick to the bottom of the skillet. Give the lasagna a good stir every few minutes.

Watch the liquid.
The noodles absorb quite a bit of sauce as they cook. If the skillet starts looking dry before the noodles are tender, add a little water, tomato juice, or more sauce.

Use freshly shredded cheese when possible.
Freshly shredded mozzarella and Parmesan melt more smoothly. Pre-shredded cheese will work, it’s just not as creamy.

Don’t skip the lid.
Covering the skillet helps trap steam and gives the noodles the moisture they need to cook properly.

What Kind of Skillet Should I Use?

I recommend a 10- to 12-inch deep skillet with a lid like this braiser. It is my absolute favorite; the perfect size for so many recipes. A cast-iron skillet, stainless-steel skillet, or nonstick skillet will work.

The important thing is having enough room for the noodles, sauce, and meat without the skillet being too full.

A skillet with straight sides is especially helpful because it gives you more room to stir.

Can I Use Cottage Cheese Instead of Ricotta?

Yes. Cottage cheese makes a great substitute for ricotta.

For the smoothest texture, puree the cottage cheese in a food processor or blender before mixing it with the Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

This is also an easy way to use cottage cheese if you already have some in the refrigerator. Plus it budget-friendly and packed with protein.

Can I Use Only Italian Sausage?

Yes. You can replace ½ pound ground beef and ½ pound Italian sausage with 1 pound of Italian sausage in your lazy skillet lasagna.

This gives the skillet lasagna a slightly different flavor but keeps the recipe just as easy.

Can I Use No-Boil Lasagna Noodles?

For this particular recipe, I recommend using regular full-size lasagna noodles, broken into pieces.

Lazy skillet lasagna is designed around regular noodles cooking directly in the sauce with the added water. No-boil noodles are formulated differently and may require different amounts of liquid.

Can I Add Vegetables?

Absolutely. This is an easy recipe to customize.

Try adding:

• Diced onion
• Chopped bell pepper
• Sliced mushrooms
• Chopped spinach
• Diced zucchini
• Chopped zucchini
• Finely chopped carrots

For vegetables that release a lot of water, cook them with the meat first and adjust the added water as needed.

Lazy Lasagna Variations

Spicy Skillet Lasagna. Use hot Italian sausage and add crushed red pepper flakes.

Three-Cheese Skillet Lasagna. Add extra mozzarella and mix a little shredded provolone into the cheese topping.

Vegetable Skillet Lasagna. Add mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers with the meat.

All-Sausage Lasagna (or all beef). Use 1 pound of sweet Italian sausage instead of the beef-and-sausage combination.

Extra-Cheesy Lasagna. Add another ½ cup mozzarella over the top before covering the skillet.

What to Serve With Skillet Lasagna

This is a hearty meal, so I like to keep the sides simple.

Good options include:

• Garlic bread
• Homemade breadsticks
• Caesar salad
• Italian Bread Salad
• Panko roasted broccoli
• Green beans
• Simple side salad

A crisp salad is especially good with this rich, cheesy pasta.

How to Store Leftover Skillet Lasagna

Allow leftovers to cool and refrigerate them promptly in an airtight container.

Store leftover lasagna in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze individual portions in freezer-safe containers.

To reheat, microwave individual portions until hot throughout, or reheat gently in a skillet with a splash of water or pasta sauce.

For food safety, the USDA recommends refrigerating leftovers within 2 hours and reheating them to 165°F.

Can I Freeze Lazy Skillet Lasagna?

Yes. Let the lasagna cool, portion it into freezer-safe containers, and freeze.

For the best texture, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Add a splash of water or pasta sauce if the noodles have absorbed most of the sauce.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is lazy skillet lasagna?

Lazy skillet lasagna is a simplified version of traditional lasagna made in one skillet. Instead of layering noodles, sauce, meat, and cheese in a baking dish, broken lasagna noodles simmer directly in the meat sauce before being topped with ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella.

Do you have to boil lasagna noodles before making skillet lasagna?

No. In this recipe, regular lasagna noodles are broken into pieces and cooked directly in the sauce with water. There is no need to boil them separately.

How long does skillet lasagna take to cook?

This skillet lasagna takes about 30 to 35 minutes of simmering time, followed by another 5 to 8 minutes to melt the cheese.

Why are my lasagna noodles sticking?

The noodles can stick if there isn’t enough liquid or if the skillet isn’t stirred often enough. Stir the skillet regularly while the noodles cook and add a little water if the sauce becomes too thick.

Can I make skillet lasagna ahead of time?

Yes. You can make it ahead and refrigerate it. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or gently reheat the entire skillet over low heat with a little additional sauce or water.

What can I use instead of ricotta in lasagna?

Pureed cottage cheese is an excellent substitute for ricotta. It gives the cheese layer a smooth texture and works especially well in this skillet version.

More Easy Dinner Recipes

If easy dinners are your thing, check out more simple recipes from Call Me PMc:

• Ground Beef Mongolian Noodles
• Stovetop 15-Minute Asian Chicken Wraps
• Sheet Pan Bell Pepper Chicken
• Crispy Lemon Garlic Chicken with Spaghetti
• Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole
• Easy Pasta Recipes

Recipe Notes

• Use a 10- to 12-inch skillet with a lid.
• Stir the noodles often while they simmer.
• Add up to ½ cup additional water if the skillet becomes too thick.
• Freshly shredded Parmesan and mozzarella give the best melting texture, but pre-shredded cheese can be substituted.
• Fresh parsley can be substituted for the basil.
• For a slightly spicy lasagna, add crushed red pepper flakes.
• You can substitute 1 pound sweet Italian sausage for the ground beef and Italian sausage.

Lazy Skillet Lasagna

This easy skillet lasagna has all the comforting flavors of classic lasagna with much less work. Broken lasagna noodles cook right in a hearty beef and sausage sauce, then the skillet is topped with creamy ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, and fresh basil.

It’s the kind of dinner that makes a busy weeknight easier without feeling like you took a shortcut.