Imagine a hearty, comforting lasagna, but ready in a fraction of the time. This skillet lasagna recipe delivers all the classic flavors you love, without the fuss of layering. It’s the perfect quick dinner for busy weeknights or casual get-togethers.
Inspired by traditional lasagna but simplified for convenience, this one-pan wonder uses Campanelle pasta is a great choice for this recipe, but you can also use bow tie pasta. You’ll find it even easier than our Million Dollar Spaghetti recipe!
Get ready to discover how simple it is to create a satisfying and delicious skillet lasagna that will become a family favorite. Let’s dive into how to make this magic happen!
Quick Overview: Your Easy Skillet Lasagna at a Glance
Want a sneak peek at this skillet lasagna recipe? Here’s a quick guide to get you started. This overview provides the essential details and steps for a delicious and easy meal.
Key Details
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Difficulty: Easy
- Brown ground beef and sausage with onion and garlic.
- Stir in tomato paste, oregano, basil, and tomato sauce.
- Simmer with beef broth and ricotta cheese.
- Mix cooked pasta into the sauce.
- Top with mozzarella and bake until golden.
Now that you’ve got the quick rundown, let’s dive into some expert tips to ensure lasagna perfection.
Expert Tips for Lasagna Perfection
Let’s dive into some expert tips and tricks to elevate your skillet lasagna from simple to spectacular. Understanding the nuances of each ingredient and technique will ensure a consistently delicious result.
Choosing the Right Ground Beef: Quality and Flavor
The type of ground beef you choose significantly impacts the lasagna’s flavor and texture. Opt for a blend that’s not too lean; around 80/20 (80% lean, 20% fat) is ideal. This fat content keeps the beef moist and flavorful during cooking. Excess fat can be drained after browning.
Look for ground beef that’s bright red and has a fresh smell. Avoid packages with a dull color or a sour odor. Use it within a day or two of purchase, or freeze it for later use.
High-quality meat will always give a better flavor. If you have access to a local butcher, ask about their ground beef options for the best possible taste.
Pasta Perfection: Why Campanelle and Bowtie Are Ideal
Campanelle pasta is a great choice for this recipe, but you can also use bow tie pasta. Both have unique shapes that enhance the lasagna experience. Their curves and ridges are perfect for capturing the rich sauce and melted cheese, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor.
These short, textured pasta shapes work much better than long noodles like spaghetti. They distribute evenly throughout the skillet and hold their shape during cooking. This prevents a mushy lasagna.
If you can’t find campanelle or bow tie, penne or rigatoni are also good substitutes, as their ridges will also grab and hold the sauce.
Mastering the Melt: The Ultimate Guide to Mozzarella
For the best melt and flavor, use low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella. It melts beautifully without becoming watery, creating that perfect cheesy topping we all crave.
Shred your own mozzarella from a block instead of buying pre-shredded cheese. Pre-shredded mozzarella often contains cellulose, which prevents it from melting as smoothly.
The key is to add the mozzarella during the last few minutes of baking, so it melts and browns without burning. Keep a close eye on it to achieve that golden-brown perfection.
Flavor Boosts and Creative Swaps
Want to customize your skillet lasagna? Try adding sautéed mushrooms to the meat mixture for an earthy depth.
For an even richer flavor, use chicken broth instead of beef broth to deglaze the pan. You can also swap ricotta cheese for cottage cheese for a tangier twist.
Feel free to experiment with different meats, such as ground turkey or chicken, or use a plant-based ground meat substitute to make it vegetarian. Just ensure that the total meat amount is one pound.
With these tips and tricks, you’re well-equipped to create a skillet lasagna that will impress everyone at the table, and next up are the step-by-step instructions.
Let’s Get Cooking: Step-by-Step Skillet Lasagna
Ready to make a delicious skillet lasagna? This recipe breaks down each step, ensuring you achieve cheesy, saucy perfection. Follow these instructions for a guaranteed hit at your next dinner.
Step 1: Prep and Brown the Meats
First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ½ lb. ground beef and ½ lb. ground sausage, crumbling them as they cook. Add 1 diced small yellow onion halfway through, cooking until the onion softens and the meat is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.
Next, add 3 cloves of garlic, minced, and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. This builds a flavorful base for the entire dish.
Step 2: Build the Flavor Base
Add ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 Tablespoon tomato paste to the skillet. Stir well to combine, coating the meat and onions evenly with the spices and tomato paste. Cook for about 2 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom, intensifying the taste of the lasagna.
Cooking the tomato paste enhances its sweetness and depth, creating a richer sauce.
Step 3: Simmer the Sauce
Pour in 1 ½ cups beef broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the skillet, deglazing the pan. This adds depth and complexity to the sauce. Add 16 oz. tomato sauce, bringing the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to a gentle simmer.
Stir in ½ cup Ricotta cheese until it’s fully combined and the sauce is creamy and rich. The ricotta adds a lovely tang and creaminess to the sauce.
Step 4: Cook the Pasta
While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add ½ pound Campanelle pasta (or your preferred substitute; remember, Campanelle pasta is a great choice for this recipe, but you can also use bow tie pasta.) and cook for about 10 minutes, or according to package instructions, until al dente.
Make sure the pasta is cooked but still firm, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
Step 5: Combine and Transfer
Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly and add it directly to the skillet with the simmering sauce. Stir to combine, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated with the flavorful sauce.
If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. This will ensure even baking and prevent any sticking.
Step 6: Bake to Cheesy Perfection
Top the lasagna with 2 ½ cups shredded fresh low moisture mozzarella, spreading it evenly over the surface. Place the skillet or casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and begins to turn golden brown.
Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning, as oven temperatures can vary.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
Remove the skillet lasagna from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot with garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
Enjoy your homemade skillet lasagna, a delicious and comforting dish perfect for any occasion. Next up, we’ll tackle some frequently asked questions about this recipe.
What kind of mozzarella is best for this skillet lasagna?
Low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella, shredded from a block, melts best and prevents a watery lasagna.
Can I use different pasta shapes in this recipe?
Yes, short pasta shapes like bowtie, penne, or rigatoni work well, but avoid long noodles like spaghetti.
How do I prevent the sauce from drying out while simmering?
Ensure the pasta is fully submerged when stirring, and add more tomato sauce or water as needed if the sauce evaporates too quickly.
Can I use other types of meat in this lasagna?
Absolutely! You can use all ground beef, all Italian sausage, or even a plant-based ground substitute, ensuring the total meat amount is one pound.
Did You Make This Delicious Skillet Lasagna?
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Leave a rating and comment below to share your experience. Your insights could inspire someone else’s dinner tonight!
If you enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out our Dumpling Bake recipe for another easy weeknight meal!
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Easy Skillet Lasagna
Equipment
- Large skillet
- 9 x 13-inch casserole dish
Ingredients
Meat and Aromatics
- 0.5 lb ground beef
- 0.5 lb ground sausage
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
Seasoning and Sauce Base
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
Simmering the Sauce
- 1.5 cups beef broth
- 16 oz tomato sauce
- 0.5 cup Ricotta cheese
Pasta
- 0.5 pound Campanelle pasta or bow tie pasta, cooked al dente
Topping
- 2.5 cups shredded fresh low moisture mozzarella
Garnish
- fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Prep and Brown the Meats
- First, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ½ lb. ground beef and ½ lb. ground sausage, crumbling them as they cook. Add 1 diced small yellow onion halfway through, cooking until the onion softens and the meat is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Next, add 3 cloves of garlic, minced, and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant. This builds a flavorful base for the entire dish.
Build the Flavor Base
- Add ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil, and 1 Tablespoon tomato paste to the skillet. Stir well to combine, coating the meat and onions evenly with the spices and tomato paste. Cook for about 2 minutes to allow the flavors to bloom, intensifying the taste of the lasagna. Cooking the tomato paste enhances its sweetness and depth, creating a richer sauce.
Simmer the Sauce
- Pour in 1 ½ cups beef broth and use a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom and sides of the skillet, deglazing the pan. This adds depth and complexity to the sauce. Add 16 oz. tomato sauce, bringing the mixture to a boil before reducing the heat to a gentle simmer.
- Stir in ½ cup Ricotta cheese until it's fully combined and the sauce is creamy and rich. The ricotta adds a lovely tang and creaminess to the sauce.
Cook the Pasta
- While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add ½ pound Campanelle pasta (or your preferred substitute; remember, Campanelle pasta is a great choice for this recipe, but you can also use bow tie pasta.) and cook for about 10 minutes, or according to package instructions, until al dente. Make sure the pasta is cooked but still firm, as it will continue to cook in the sauce.
Combine and Transfer
- Drain the cooked pasta thoroughly and add it directly to the skillet with the simmering sauce. Stir to combine, ensuring the pasta is evenly coated with the flavorful sauce.
- If your skillet is not oven-safe, transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. This will ensure even baking and prevent any sticking.
Bake to Cheesy Perfection
- Top the lasagna with 2 ½ cups shredded fresh low moisture mozzarella, spreading it evenly over the surface. Place the skillet or casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and begins to turn golden brown. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning, as oven temperatures can vary.
Serve and Enjoy
- Remove the skillet lasagna from the oven and garnish with fresh parsley. Serve hot with garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal. Enjoy your homemade skillet lasagna, a delicious and comforting dish perfect for any occasion. Next up, we'll tackle some frequently asked questions about this recipe.
Notes
- Choosing the Right Ground Beef: Opt for 80/20 ground beef for moisture and flavor. Drain excess fat after browning. Quality matters for better taste.
- Pasta Perfection: Campanelle or bow tie pasta are ideal due to their shape for capturing sauce. Short, textured pasta shapes are better than long noodles. Penne or rigatoni are good substitutes.
- Mastering the Melt: Use low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella, shredded from a block for the best melt. Add cheese in the last few minutes of baking to melt and brown without burning.
- Flavor Boosts and Creative Swaps: Add sautéed mushrooms. Use chicken broth instead of beef broth for deglazing. Swap ricotta for cottage cheese. Experiment with different meats (ground turkey, chicken) or plant-based substitutes, keeping the total meat amount at one pound.
- What kind of mozzarella is best for this skillet lasagna? Low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella, shredded from a block, melts best and prevents a watery lasagna.
- Can I use different pasta shapes in this recipe? Yes, short pasta shapes like bowtie, penne, or rigatoni work well, but avoid long noodles like spaghetti.
- How do I prevent the sauce from drying out while simmering? Ensure the pasta is fully submerged when stirring, and add more tomato sauce or water as needed if the sauce evaporates too quickly.
- Can I use other types of meat in this lasagna? Absolutely! You can use all ground beef, all Italian sausage, or even a plant-based ground substitute, ensuring the total meat amount is one pound.