Lazy Lasagna Skillet (Easy One Pan Lasagna)
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Lasagna is one of those dinners everyone gets excited about, but let's be honest, it's a lot of work! Boiling noodles, layering, baking for an hour... that's not happening on a busy weeknight. This Lazy Lasagna Skillet is my shortcut.
It's an easy one pan lasagna with all that cheesy, saucy flavor, no layering and no oven. It's ready in about 30 minutes, packs around 34 grams of protein per serving, and it's one healthy dinner the whole family will actually eat. No making a separate meal for the kids!
If you love cozy pasta dinners, be sure to check out my High Protein Pasta too!
Quick Look: Lazy Lasagna Skillet
- 🕒 Total Time: 30 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 6
- 📊 Calories: 485 per serving
- 💪 Protein: 34g
If you're a fan of one pan pasta dinners, try my Cheeseburger Orzo Skillet next! It's ready in 20 minutes with 28 grams of protein per serving.
Why You'll Love This Lazy Lasagna Skillet
- No Layering, No Oven: The noodles cook right in the sauce, so there's no boiling, no layering and no hour-long bake. Fewer dishes on a busy weeknight is always a win in my book!
- High Protein: Lean ground beef, ricotta, cottage cheese and parmesan add up to around 34 grams of protein per serving, so everyone stays full.
- Kid-Friendly Flavor: It tastes just like classic lasagna, served in a bowl. One meal for everyone, so you're not cooking twice. My kids love this one so much they ask to take the leftovers to school for lunch!
For another healthier take on a family classic, try my Healthier Hamburger Helper!
Select Ingredients
- Lean ground beef: I use 93% lean to keep it high protein without a lot of grease to drain. Lean ground turkey or Italian sausage work great too!
- Marinara sauce: Use your favorite jar. I look for one without added sugar and lower in sodium, since the parmesan already brings plenty of salty flavor.
- No-boil lasagna noodles: These are the secret to making this so easy. Break them into bite-size pieces and they cook right in the sauce. No extra pot of boiling water needed!
- Ricotta + cottage cheese: This combo gives you that creamy lasagna layer you know and love, with a big boost of protein. Part-skim ricotta and lowfat cottage cheese keep it lighter.
- Parmesan + basil: A little parmesan goes a long way, and the basil makes it taste like it came out of the oven.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Tips & Variations
➡️ Break the noodles small: Snap the noodles into 1-2 inch pieces so they cook evenly and every bite is easy to scoop.
➡️ Stir every few minutes: Lasagna noodles love to stick together, so give the skillet a good stir every 2-3 minutes while it simmers. Push any noodles poking out back under the sauce.
➡️ Want it extra creamy? Blend the cottage cheese until smooth before stirring it in. It melts right into the sauce and no one will ever know it's there.
➡️ Add more veggies: Stir in a few handfuls of fresh spinach with the cheeses, or add diced zucchini or mushrooms with the onion. It's an easy way to sneak in extra veggies!
➡️ Make it gluten free: Swap in gluten-free lasagna noodles and check that your broth and marinara are gluten free. GF noodles can cook faster, so start checking them a few minutes early.
➡️ Top it your way: Want that bubbly lasagna top? Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the skillet, cover for a couple of minutes until melted, then add the parmesan and basil.
How To Make This Lazy Lasagna Skillet
Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
Step 2: Add the ground beef and cook and chop until browned, about 7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed. Stir in the Italian seasoning, then add the marinara sauce and chicken broth. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil.
Step 3: Add the broken lasagna noodles and stir to submerge them in the sauce. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 7-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the noodles are tender.
Step 4: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the ricotta and cottage cheese until melted and creamy.
Step 5: Top with grated parmesan and fresh or dried basil. Enjoy!
Want More Dinners Ready in 30 Minutes? If you loved how easy this one was, you'll love my FREE 30-Minute Meals e-book! It's full of easy, high protein dinners. Just drop your name and email below.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Lean ground beef, part-skim ricotta and lowfat cottage cheese keep it balanced, with around 34 grams of protein per serving. Add a side salad or roasted broccoli for a complete meal.
You can, but they take longer to cook and soak up more liquid. Add an extra ½ to 1 cup of broth and simmer a few minutes longer, until the noodles are tender.
Absolutely. Lean ground turkey makes it a little lighter, and Italian sausage adds extra flavor. If you use sausage, you can cut back on the Italian seasoning.
Nope! It melts into the sauce with the ricotta and makes it extra creamy. If you have picky eaters, blend it first and it disappears completely.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. The noodles keep soaking up the sauce as it sits, so add a splash of broth or water when you reheat it on the stove or in the microwave.
Yes! My kids love taking the leftovers for school lunch. Heat it up in the morning and pack it in a thermos, or divide it into containers for easy lunches all week. Keep the fresh basil separate until you're ready to eat.
Check out my meal planning app Wholesome Meals Made Easy for more easy, healthy recipes your whole crew will actually love. It's like having a dietitian in your back pocket - quick, balanced, and family-approved!
Other Skillet Meals to Try
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Lazy Lasagna Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 1 lb ground beef 93% lean
- 1 tablespoon italian seasoning
- 24 fl oz spaghetti marinara sauce
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 12 oz lasagna noodles no boil noodles
- 1 cup part skim milk ricotta cheese
- 1 cup lowfat cottage cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ tablespoon dried basil or can use fresh!
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and stir for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and brown, breaking it up and stirring occasionally over medium-high heat, about 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in the Italian seasoning, then add the marinara sauce and chicken broth, stirring well to combine. Increase heat to high and bring to a boil.
- Add the broken lasagna noodles and stir to submerge. Cover, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, about 7-10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low. Add the ricotta and cottage cheese, stirring until melted and well blended.
- Top with grated Parmesan cheese and dried or fresh basil. Enjoy!
Notes
- Break the noodles small: Snap them into 1-2 inch pieces so they cook evenly.
- Stir often: Stir every 2-3 minutes while simmering so the noodles don't stick. If it looks dry before they're tender, add a splash more broth.
- Extra creamy: Blend the cottage cheese until smooth before stirring it in.
- Swap the protein: Lean ground turkey or Italian sausage work well in place of beef.
- Gluten free: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles and check your broth and marinara.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Add a splash of broth or water when reheating.
- Nutrition: Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary based on the specific brands and ingredients used.
