Description
Comfort meets convenience in this cheesy skillet lasagna, where classic Italian flavors merge with quick weeknight cooking. Rich layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, and melted cheese create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 8 oz lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 2 cups water or low-sodium beef broth
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Optional garnish: fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Sizzle ground beef with onions in a spacious skillet over medium heat until thoroughly browned, eliminating any excess grease.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Introduce minced garlic and toast briefly to release intense flavors.
- Sauce Integration: Pour marinara, diced tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the skillet, creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Pasta Immersion: Incorporate broken lasagna noodles and liquid, gently pressing pasta beneath the sauce surface to ensure even cooking.
- Simmering Stage: Cover and allow mixture to gently bubble for 15-18 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking and ensure uniform tenderness.
- Cheese Layering: Delicately distribute ricotta across the surface, creating soft swirls without complete incorporation.
- Final Cheese Transformation: Generously sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan, then cover and cook an additional 3-5 minutes until cheese melts luxuriously and develops a golden, bubbling crust.
- Serving Presentation: Garnish with freshly chopped herbs and serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Break lasagna noodles into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Adjust water or broth quantity based on pasta brand and desired sauce consistency; some noodles absorb more liquid than others.
- Add ricotta in dollops and gently swirl to create pockets of creamy cheese rather than completely mixing, preserving distinct flavor zones.
- Maintain medium-low heat while simmering to prevent bottom burning and ensure pasta cooks evenly without scorching.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg