The Best Skillet Lasagna Recipe: Cozy Family Dinner Ready in 30

Skillet lasagna reimagines traditional layered pasta into a quick, one-pan wonder that simplifies classic Italian comfort food.

Home cooks often struggle with complex, time-consuming lasagna preparations that demand multiple dishes and hours of work.

This ingenious method collapses traditional techniques into a streamlined, delicious meal anyone can master in less than thirty minutes.

Robust flavors meld perfectly in a single cast-iron pan, creating a creamy, hearty dish that feels like a gourmet restaurant experience.

Tender noodles absorb rich tomato sauce while melted cheese creates irresistible golden-brown edges that provide satisfying texture and depth.

Weeknight dinner challenges disappear with this clever recipe that brings restaurant-quality taste directly to your kitchen table.

You’ll appreciate how effortlessly this skillet lasagna combines convenience with authentic Italian culinary tradition.

Why Skillet Lasagna Is a Weeknight Hero

• Quick One-Pot Wonder: This skillet lasagna delivers full Italian flavor without multiple cooking dishes, making cleanup a breeze and saving precious kitchen time.
• Creamy Texture Explosion: The ricotta mixture creates a luxurious, velvety layer that perfectly complements the hearty beef and tender pasta, offering a delightful mouthfeel in every bite.
• Customizable Comfort Food: Easy to adapt with different proteins, vegetables, or cheese varieties, this recipe provides flexibility for home cooks wanting to experiment while maintaining a classic lasagna essence.
• Speedy Weeknight Meal: Ready in under 30 minutes, this skillet lasagna solves the challenge of preparing a satisfying, restaurant-quality dinner when time is limited and hunger is high.

Everything You Need for One-Pan Skillet Lasagna

• Ground Beef: Lean protein base for the dish, choose 80/20 or 85/15 for best flavor and texture.
• Ricotta Cheese: Creamy and rich cheese that adds moisture and protein to the lasagna.
• Egg: Helps bind the ricotta mixture and provides structure.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that enhances overall flavor profile.

• Bow-Tie Pasta: Playful pasta shape that catches sauce well and adds visual interest.
• Pasta Sauce: Provides liquid and flavor base, use high-quality jarred or homemade sauce.

• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Aromatic spices that build deep savory flavor throughout the dish.
• Chopped Basil: Fresh herb that adds bright, herbal notes to the ricotta mixture.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance and balance overall taste.

• Chopped Spinach: Adds nutrition and subtle green color to the cheese mixture.
• Flour: Helps thicken and stabilize the ricotta mixture.
• Water: Provides necessary liquid for cooking pasta in the skillet.

How to Layer Skillet Lasagna on the Stove

Step 1: Sizzle The Beef

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned and crumbly. Sprinkle in garlic powder and onion powder while cooking. Drain excess fat from the skillet.

Step 2: Create The Pasta Base

• Pasta sauce
• Uncooked bow-tie pasta
• Water

Stir ingredients thoroughly and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, cover skillet, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.

Step 3: Craft The Cheese Blend

• Ricotta cheese
• Egg
• Chopped spinach
• Chopped basil
• Parmesan cheese
• Flour
• Remaining garlic powder
• Salt
• Black pepper

Mix ingredients until smooth and well incorporated.

Step 4: Layer The Cheese Mixture

Once pasta is cooked, dollop ricotta mixture across the skillet’s surface. Spread evenly using a spatula. Cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Step 5: Serve And Enjoy

Dish out hot servings of skillet lasagna. Optional garnishes include extra Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves.

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on stovetop or in microwave.

Tips for Saucy, Cheesy Layers Without an Oven

• Master the Meat Browning: Ensure the ground beef is thoroughly browned and crumbled for maximum flavor and even texture throughout the dish.
• Pasta Perfection: Stir occasionally while simmering to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform cooking with no dry spots.
• Ricotta Mixing Technique: Blend the ricotta mixture thoroughly, eliminating any flour lumps for a smooth, creamy consistency.
• Cheese Distribution Trick: Use a spoon to create evenly spaced dollops of ricotta mixture, covering the entire surface for balanced flavor in every bite.
• Reheating Wisdom: When warming leftovers, add a splash of water or extra sauce to prevent the pasta from drying out and maintain the skillet lasagna's original moisture and taste.

How to Save and Reheat Leftover Skillet Lasagna

• Refrigeration: Transfer cooled skillet lasagna to an airtight container, ensuring a tight seal to prevent moisture loss and maintain freshness.
• Microwave Reheating: Place a single serving in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Stovetop Reheating: Warm leftovers in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of water or extra pasta sauce to restore moisture and prevent sticking, stirring occasionally until heated through.

Sides and Bread Options That Match Skillet Lasagna

• Savor Italian Wine Pairing: Complement the rich, hearty skillet lasagna with a classic medium-bodied red like Chianti or Sangiovese, which cuts through the creamy cheese and balances the tomato sauce perfectly.
• Elevate with Fresh Salad Companion: Create a crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette to contrast the lasagna's warmth, adding a bright, zesty element that refreshes the palate between bites.
• Match with Rustic Garlic Bread: Serve crusty, herb-infused garlic bread alongside the skillet lasagna to soak up the delicious sauce and provide a crunchy textural counterpoint to the creamy pasta dish.
• Finish with Bold Red Beverage: Enhance the meal's flavors with a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, whose deep fruit notes and slight tannins wonderfully complement the beef and cheese components.

Fun Variations for Changing Up This One-Pan Classic

• Veggie Power Skillet: Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles or finely chopped mushrooms for a vegetarian version that's packed with nutrients and flavor.
• Mediterranean Fusion Skillet: Swap bow-tie pasta for orzo, add kalamata olives, and incorporate crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired lasagna experience.
• Spicy Southwest Skillet: Mix in diced green chilies, replace some pasta sauce with salsa, and top with pepper jack cheese to create a zesty Mexican-style lasagna.
• Creamy Chicken Skillet: Substitute ground beef with shredded rotisserie chicken, use a creamy alfredo sauce instead of traditional pasta sauce, and add sun-dried tomatoes for extra richness.

Skillet Lasagna Recipe

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4.6 from 39 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Skillet lasagna delivers a quick, one-pan twist on classic Italian comfort. Layered with rich marinara, melted cheese, and tender pasta, this streamlined recipe brings restaurant-quality flavor directly to your dinner table without extensive preparation time.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) ground beef

Pasta and Sauce:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) bow-tie pasta, uncooked
• 24 ounces (680 grams) pasta sauce
• 2 cups (480 milliliters) water

Cheese and Herbs:

• ½ cup (120 grams) ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup (50 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup (30 grams) fresh spinach, chopped
• ½ cup (15 grams) fresh basil, chopped

Seasonings:

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 3 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

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Instructions

1. Crumble the ground beef into a spacious skillet, seasoning with garlic powder and onion powder. Sauté over medium flame until the meat transforms into a rich, caramelized brown, eliminating any lingering fat.
2. Introduce pasta sauce, uncooked bow-tie pasta, and water into the skillet. Thoroughly integrate the ingredients, ensuring an even distribution.
3. Elevate the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Seal the skillet with a lid and allow the contents to meld together, approximately 17-20 minutes, until pasta reaches perfect tenderness.
4. Meanwhile, craft the cheese blend by whisking ricotta, egg, spinach, basil, Parmesan, flour, remaining garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing vessel. Blend until the mixture achieves a harmonious consistency.
5. Once pasta has softened, artfully distribute generous spoonfuls of the ricotta blend across the skillet’s surface, creating an even landscape of creamy pockets.
6. Return the lid and let the cheese mixture gently set for an additional 5 minutes, allowing flavors to intermingle.
7. Plate the lasagna while piping hot, optionally adorning with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh basil leaves for an elegant flourish.
8. Preserve any remaining portions in a sealed container within the refrigerator, consuming within three days. Gently reheat using stovetop or microwave methods.

Notes

• Quickly whip up this one-pan wonder in under 40 minutes, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
• Skip the traditional layering process and enjoy a simplified lasagna that delivers full Italian flavor without complex preparation.
• Use fresh basil and spinach to boost nutritional value and create a vibrant, herbaceous taste profile.
• Opt for bow-tie pasta as a fun alternative to traditional lasagna noodles, adding playful texture and visual appeal.
• Ensure even cooking by stirring occasionally and maintaining low heat during the simmering process.
• Refrigerate leftovers promptly and consume within three days for optimal taste and food safety.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 570
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 58 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 38 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg