Skillet Lasagna

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An ultimate comfort food redesigned into a one dish meal, this Skillet Lasagna is easy to make and much faster than traditional versions. Sometimes called lazy lasagna, it layers savory tomato sauce, tender lasagna noodles, creamy cheeses and flavorful herbs, all cooked together in a skillet.

Lasagna serving on a white plate with a side of garlic bread. Garlic clove, grated parmesan cheese and skillet with cooked lasagna visible in the background.

The beauty of using a skillet to make lasagna is that it streamlines the cooking process. The noodles cook directly in the sauce, absorbing the robust flavors. You can also customize your dish, adding different meats, vegetables, and plant-based alternatives to make a satisfying and tasty dinner. Plus, cleanup is a breeze!

Recipe Ingredients

Ground beef: Lean ground beef or even ground turkey work well in this recipe.
Italian sausage: Seasoned with a mix of savory, herbal and sometimes mildly spicy notes, this gives the dish a well-balanced flavor.
Dried oregano and basil: Both are Italian cooking staples, especially with tomato based dishes.
Garlic: Fresh minced or jarred garlic will work for this recipe.
Beef broth: Adds a rich and savory flavor, and helps cook the noodles.
Marinara sauce: Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce or even make your own. Rao's is our favorite and it's one of those pantry staples we always have on hand.
Lasagna noodles: You'll break the noodles into smaller pieces to speed up cooking.
Parmesan cheese: This cheese has a savory, nutty flavor.
Mozzarella cheese: A creamy texture and mild flavor make this a versatile cheese in many Italian dishes. When melted, it becomes stringy--perfect for topping this dish!

Ingredients for skillet lasagna are displayed in bowls and plates, including ground beef, ground sausage, lasagna noodles, cheese, tomato sauce and herbs.

How to Make This One Pot Lasagna

Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.

Cook. Brown and crumble beef and sausage in a medium-large skillet on medium-low heat. Drain excess drippings. Add oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook about 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant.

Ground beef and ground sausage are browned in a skillet, using a wooden spatula. Small bowls containing noodles, sauce and herbs are visible around the skillet.

Herbs are added to browned meat in a skillet, with noodles, tomato sauce, fresh basil and grated cheese visible around the skillet.

Simmer. Add broth and scrape bits from the bottom of the pan, then mix in sauce and lasagna pieces. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally.

Broken lasagna noodles are layered with sauce in a skillet. Browned meat is visible below the noodle.

Sauce, noodles and meat are combined in a skillet. Bowls and plates containing grated cheese and sliced cheese are visible at the top of the image.

Melt cheese. Add parmesan cheese and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or 2 slices). Stir to combine. Add another cup of mozzarella (or 4 slices) to top. Cover and simmer 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.

An overhead view of a skillet with meat sauce and noodles, topped with cheese in various stages of melting. A bowl of parmesan cheese, a garlic clove, and a basil leaf are visible above the skillet.

Overhead shot of a skillet containing meat sauce, noodles, melted cheese and basil leaves. Ingredients are visible above the skillet and a striped dishtowel and wooden spatula are visible below the skillet.

Recipe FAQ's

Can I use a different type of pasta in skillet lasagna?

We like lasagna noodles for their texture and they combine well with the thickness of the meat sauce. You could try penne, shells or mafalda--which look like a small and narrow lasagna. Smaller noodles will cook faster, so be sure to monitor the progress and stop simmering when the pasta is tender.

What differences are there between a lazy lasagna recipe and traditional lasagna?

Generally, lazy lasagna refers to a recipe that uses shortcuts to make lasagna. In this case, using a skillet and cooking the noodles in the beef broth are ways that we've streamlined the recipe, as well as using a jarred marinara sauce.

Top Tips

Lasagna noodles don't freeze well, so we don't recommend trying to freeze leftovers.
Use a medium to large skillet to ensure there's enough room for the ingredients.

Close up image of a skillet containing cooked lasagna, with a wooden spatula inserted into the dish.

Recipe Variations

Lasagna recipes are great for adding in extra veggies to increase the nutritional value without big changes to the taste. Try chopped spinach, sliced or thinly grated zucchini, grated carrots, or sautéed mushrooms.
Shredded cheese is best for melting and taste, but sliced or bagged cheese work great as a shortcut.
Use fresh mozzarella for an authentic Italian taste.
Make it vegetarian with Beyond beef and sausage and substitute vegetable broth for beef broth. For those following a vegan diet, there are vegan mozzarella alternatives made from tofu or other plant-based ingredients.
Substitute a different cheese like provolone or Monterey Jack.
Instead of basil, substitute flat-leaf parsley for a fresh flavor.

Storage & Reheating

To store: Move leftovers to a dish and cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Warm individual servings of one pot lasagna in a microwave or skillet.

What to Serve With Stovetop Lasagna

If you want to keep things simple, pair your lasagna with this Easy Garlic Bread. If you're up for putting in a little more effort, here are some easy side dishes that will make this a full meal.

Caesar salad
Steamed vegetables
Caprese salad
Roasted asparagus spears

Close up shot of skillet lasagna on a wooden spoon, with a pan of lasagna visible in the background.

More One Pot Recipes

Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

A close image of a pan of skillet lasagna.

Skillet Lasagna Recipe

A one-pan twist on the classic Italian favorite, this delicious lasagna is made with layers of savory meat sauce, tender pasta, melted cheese and flavorful herbs. It's the ultimate comfort food, without all of the cleanup!

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Cook: 25

Total: 25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 714kcal

Ingredients

8 ounces ground beef
8 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup beef broth
1 (24-ounce) jar of your favorite marinara sauce (we like Rao's)
5 lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese + additional for serving
2 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (or 6 slices mozzarella)
Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)

Instructions

Brown and crumble beef and sausage in a medium-large skillet on medium-low heat. Drain excess drippings. Add oregano, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and cook about 30 seconds until garlic is fragrant.
Add broth and scrape bits from bottom of pan, then mix in sauce and lasagna pieces. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally.
Add parmesan cheese and 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or 2 slices). Stir to combine. Add another cup of mozzarella (or 4 slices) to top. Cover and simmer 1-2 minutes or until cheese has melted.
Serve with fresh basil and garlic bread (optional). Make it a meal with a salad or vegetable.

Notes

Make it vegetarian with Beyond beef and sausage and substitute vegetable broth for beef broth.
Shredded cheese is best, but sliced or bagged cheese also work great as a shortcut. Also try fresh mozzarella.
To store: Leftovers can be stored in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat: Individual servings can be reheated in a microwave or skillet.