Skillet Lasagna

Skillet Lasagna Ingredients

This skillet lasagna comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need.

• Extra virgin olive oil: The sausage will release some fat, but I like to give it a head start, especially when cooking with leaner chicken or turkey sausage.
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• Italian sausage adds richness and savory flavor without the need for extra spices, since the meat is already seasoned with fennel, oregano, and chili. I often use chicken or turkey sausage to keep it a little lighter, but pork works too.
• Carrot and bell peppers add earthy sweetness, and they cook down into the sauce beautifully. 
• Onion and garlic: I just couldn’t make a tomato–based pasta dish without these classic flavor-makers. They add depth, sweetness, and aroma to the sauce. I like a red onion, but you can use any color. 
• Marinara sauce: A jar of good-quality store-bought sauce keeps this recipe quick and easy. If you have time, try my Spaghetti Sauce recipe!
• Italian seasoning backs up the spices in the sausage and sauce, adding lots of complex flavor. I make my own Italian seasoning blend and keep it in my spice drawer to help make quick work of dinner.
• Pasta: When developing this recipe, I used lasagna noodles broken into pieces so they fit into the pan and are easier to eat, but you still get that classic ruffled edge. You can make this recipe with any short pasta shape you like. Rigatoni, penne, or fusilli all work great.
• Ricotta gives the dish that creamy, rich texture we expect from lasagna. If you’ve tried making your own you can use it, but store-bought is great, too. 
• Parmesan cheese adds that cheesy finish everyone loves. Feel free to substitute pecorino romano.
• Salt and black pepper are essential for seasoning the dish at the end.
• Fresh basil: Adding a handful of torn basil leaves is optional, but I think it brightens up the whole dish. Feel free to use chopped parsley instead.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

This easy lasagna recipe is the ultimate weeknight comfort food, and everything cooks in one pan, Here’s how to bring it all together:

• Sauté the sausage and veggies: In a large, deep skillet, heat 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound mild Italian sausage (chicken, turkey, or pork), 1 small onion (finely chopped), 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies have softened and the sausage has fully cooked and browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Carefully drain off excess fat (especially if using pork sausage) into a heat-safe container and discard.
• Simmer the sauce: Stir in 3 cups (1 24-ounce jar) marinara sauce and 1 cup water. Stir in 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning and bring the sauce to a boil. 
• Cook the pasta. Stir in 8 ounces lasagna noodles, broken into large pieces, and lower the heat to medium. Cover the pan and cook for about 15 minutes, until the noodles are tender.
• Add cheese, season, and serve. Uncover and nestle spoonfuls of 1 cup whole-milk ricotta between the noodles in the pan, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Finish with a few torn basil leaves on top (if you like), and serve. 

Make It Your Own

This skillet lasagna recipe is easy to customize based on what you have on hand! 

• Make it vegetarian: Use vegetarian sausage crumbles or replace the sausage with a combination of sautéed mushrooms and cooked lentils. You’ll still get a hearty, satisfying skillet meal full of flavor.
• Add a little heat: Use hot Italian sausage, arrabbiata sauce in place of the marinara, or stir in a pinch of red pepper flakes with the garlic for a skillet lasagna with a kick.
• Try a different cheese: Swap ricotta for cottage cheese or fresh mozzarella for extra richness.
• Add greens: Stir in a grated zucchini along with the carrots or a handful of baby spinach just before adding the ricotta for more color and extra nutrients.
• Make it whole grain: Use whole wheat pasta to add whole grain goodness. It absorbs water more readily, so you may need to splash in a little extra if the sauce seems dry. 

What to Serve with Skillet Lasagna

I love rounding out a meal of this cozy skillet lasagna with something green. A simple salad like my Radicchio Salad or an arugula salad with beets and goat cheese brightens the plate and balances the rich, creamy pasta.

You could also add a basket of warm Homemade Garlic Bread or Focaccia Bread to soak up every bit of the sauce. And to end on a sweet note, my Apple Olive Oil Cake is a cozy way to finish things off.