This easy one pan lasagna is packed with all of the flavors of the classic Italian dish, but made right in a skillet for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
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Easy One Pan Lasagna
Growing up, one of my favorite family dinners was my mom’s lasagna. I love the classic recipe, but when I’m in a pinch and looking for something easier, this one pan version is a great option.
With all the flavors of a classic lasagna but half the work, this skillet lasagna is ready in under an hour, making it perfect for a busy weeknight or an Italian dinner party.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Table of Contents
- Easy One Pan Lasagna
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for One Pan Lasagna
- Equipment Needed
- How to Make One Pan Lasagna
- How to Store Leftovers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Else Can You Serve with One Pot Lasagna
- More Simple Weeknight Meal Ideas You’ll Love
- Final Thoughts
- Printable Recipe Card for Easy One Pan Lasagna (Skillet Dinner)
- Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!
Ingredients for One Pan Lasagna
- Lean ground beef or mild Italian sausage: Either option works great in this recipe and adds rich, savory flavor to the sauce. Ground beef keeps it classic, while Italian sausage adds a little extra seasoning and depth.
- Green bell pepper: Adds a subtle sweetness and extra flavor to the meat sauce while also giving the dish a little texture and color. If your family is not a fan, you can easily leave it out.
- Garlic cloves: Fresh minced garlic gives the sauce a bold, delicious flavor. If you need a shortcut, about 1½ teaspoons of jarred minced garlic works too.
- Marinara sauce: A jar of your favorite marinara sauce keeps this recipe simple and flavorful. Our family loves Prego, but you can use whatever brand your family loves or already has on hand.
- Water: Helps cook the noodles while keeping the sauce from becoming too thick as everything simmers together.
- Oven-ready lasagna noodles: These noodles cook directly in the skillet and eliminate the extra step of boiling pasta, which helps keep this recipe quick and easy. Breaking them into pieces helps them cook evenly and makes the dish easier to serve.
- Shredded mozzarella cheese: Melts into the skillet and creates that classic cheesy lasagna topping everyone loves. Freshly shredded cheese melts best, but pre-shredded works just fine for convenience.
- Fresh parsley: A simple garnish that adds a pop of color and a little fresh flavor right before serving.
Equipment Needed
How to Make One Pan Lasagna
Ready to make this easy, quick lasagna recipe? Here are the easy step-by-step directions. There’s also a full printable recipe card with all the ingredients and instructions at the bottom of the post.
Step 1: Brown the Meat
In a deep skillet, cook one pound of lean ground beef over medium heat until done and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease as needed.
note from jen’s kitchen
If you want to lighten up this recipe, you can easily swap the beef for lean turkey as a different ground meat option.
Step 2: Add the Sauce Ingredients
Next, stir in the diced green pepper, three cloves of minced garlic, one jar of marinara sauce, and the water.
For the sauce, I prefer to use Prego, but any brand sauce will work.
note from jen’s kitchen
If you don’t have marinara sauce on hand, you can easily make your own using plain tomato sauce. Simply warm the tomato sauce in a saucepan and stir in a little olive oil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes to help the flavors blend together before adding it to your recipe.
Step 3: Add the Noodles and Simmer
Bring the mixture to a boil. Then, break up eight oven-ready lasagna noodles and add them into the skillet.
Cook the lasagna over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the noodles are tender.
note from jen’s kitchen
As the mixture cooks down, I find that I usually need to add a bit more water to keep the noodles covered until they are done. And don’t forget to stir once in a while to prevent the lasagna from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 4: Add the Cheese
When the noodles are done, remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle with one cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese and place a lid on the pan.
Let the lasagna sit for five minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
Step 5: Garnish, Serve, and Enjoy!
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
How to Store Leftovers
Allow the lasagna to cool completely before placing your leftovers in an airtight container and storing them in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
To reheat, place a portion in a microwave-safe dish and warm in 30 to 60 second intervals until heated through.
You can also reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium-low heat. Just note that you may need to add a bit of water or extra marinara sauce to keep the lasagna from drying out.
This recipe can also be frozen. Just store cooled portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw your lasagna overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use regular lasagna noodles instead of oven-ready noodles?
A: Yes. Traditional lasagna noodles can be used, but they will need a little longer to cook in the skillet. You may also need to add extra water as they simmer to make sure the noodles soften and cook evenly.
Q: Can I substitute Italian sausage for ground beef?
Absolutely. Mild or hot Italian sausage both work well and add extra flavor to the sauce.
Q: Do I need to cover the skillet while the noodles cook?
A: Yes. Covering the skillet helps trap moisture and allows the noodles to soften and cook evenly.
Q: Can I make this one pan lasagna ahead of time?
A: This recipe is best served fresh, but leftovers reheat well and make a great next day meal.
What Else Can You Serve with One Pot Lasagna
This skillet lasagna is hearty enough to stand on its own, but it pairs beautifully with simple sides that help round out the meal.
More Simple Weeknight Meal Ideas You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this one pan skillet lasagna recipe, here are a few more easy weeknight dinner recipes you’ll love.
Final Thoughts
If you love the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna but want something quicker and easier to make, this easy one pan lasagna is a recipe you’ll want to keep on repeat. Made with simple ingredients and cooked all in one skillet, it delivers all the classic flavor you expect with less prep and cleanup.
Whether you are feeding your family on a busy weeknight or serving guests for a casual Italian-inspired dinner, this recipe is always a crowd favorite.
As always, feel free to leave any questions or comments below.
Don’t forget to pin this post to save it for later, and, if you try this recipe, remember to leave feedback by giving your rating on the recipe card below.
Enjoy!
Printable Recipe Card for Easy One Pan Lasagna (Skillet Dinner)
Easy One Pan Lasagna Recipe (Skillet Dinner)
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef or ground mild Italian sausage
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves minced garlic (equivalent to about 1 and 1/2 teaspoons)
- 1 jar marinara sauce (23.5 ozs)
- 1 and ½ cups water
- 8 oven-ready lasagna noodles, broken into pieces
- 1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
- fresh parsley to garnish
Instructions
- In a deep skillet, cook one pound of lean ground beef over medium heat until done and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease as needed.
- Stir in the diced green pepper, three cloves of minced garlic, one jar of spaghetti sauce, and water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Break up eight oven-ready lasagna noodles and add them into the skillet.
- Cook the lasagna over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Add additional water as needed to prevent the noodles from sticking to the pan.
- When the noodles are done, remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle with one cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese and place a lid on the pan.
- Let the lasagna sit for five minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Enjoy This Recipe? PIN It for Later!
Yum! This sounds amazing!
Thank you, Renae. It is always a hit in our house!
Jen,
To have the taste of lasagna, you forgot the ricotta cheese. How would I add this?
Hi Steve,
This specific recipe is a bit different than traditional lasagna and doesn’t call for ricotta (or cottage cheese as I use in my layered dish) You could certainly experiment and add some. If you try it, let me know!
What size tomato sauce did you use? It isn’t listed in the ingredients..
Oops! Thanks for catching that. I’ve fixed it now. I just used one regular-sized jar (23.5 ozs.) of spaghetti sauce.
What a wonderful way to get all the flavors of lasagna for a fraction of the effort! I’m definitely giving this a try! Pinned for later 🙂
Yes! I love lasagna, but it takes quite a bit of time to make. This is just as good, without all of the hassles.😉
This looks delicious and lasagna is my husbands fave, so I can’t wait to try it!!
Thank you, Michele. It is a favorite in our family, and so much less time-intensive than the regular lasagna recipe.
Jen,
This sounds so good. I can’t wait to try it.
Thank you, Rachel. Cheers to another fun month of supper club!
I love that you chose an Italian theme this month! The recipes all look so good and I can’t wait to try your one dish dinner!!!
All of the recipes look so good this month. Perfect for an Italian dinner!