Nothing beats a comforting pasta dish that satisfies all your senses, but we have to agree that traditional lasagna takes energy—which makes it ideal for meal-preps but not so much for rushed, weekday suppers. That’s why our quick skillet lasagna is the ultimate family-friendly dish, perfect for busy nights. Just cook the noodles beforehand, and you’re good to go for the easiest, tastiest dinner ever!
Tips for Making Quick Skillet Lasagna
Here are a few helpful tips for making this quick skillet dinner.
- Cut down on cooking time by prepping what you can in advance. Similar to speedy casseroles or one-pot meals, a skillet lasagna allows you to build the layers while simmering over low to medium heat. By cooking the pasta ahead of time, you’ll cut off time and effort. Better yet—brown your ground beef in advance so the lasagna will be done in a breeze.
- Use a deep pan to hold the layers of yumminess. A 10-inch skillet is just the right size to brown the beef and add the layers of pasta and sauce.
- Make sure to evenly spread the meat and sauce so each layer can cook well.
- Cover the dish for a few minutes during cooking to allow the cheese to melt to perfection. Then let the dish stand, covered, an additional minute before serving.
- Serve alongside garlic bread or a fresh green salad to balance it all out.
Tip
If your noodles tend to stick to the bottom of the skillet, try buttering it first before spreading a layer of sauce. Then, proceed to build your lasagna as suggested.
Ingredients
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3 cup (6 ounces) dried mafalda (mini lasagna) noodles
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12 ounce lean ground beef or bulk pork sausage
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1 26-27.75 ounce jar tomato-base pasta sauce
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1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
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¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)
Directions
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Cook the Pasta
Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
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Brown the Meat
Meanwhile, cook meat in a 10-inch nonstick skillet until meat is brown; drain. Set meat aside. Wipe skillet with paper towel.
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Layer the Ingredients
Spread about half of the cooked pasta in the skillet. Cover with about half of the sauce. Spoon cooked meat over sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining pasta and sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over top.
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Cook
Cook, covered, over medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until heated through and cheese melts. Remove skillet from heat and let stand, covered, for 1 minute. Makes 6 servings.
Tip
Planning to make it ahead? Though this recipe is as easy as it comes, we love a good meal-prep—for that, cook the meat and store it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. For the pasta, boil as instructed, and once drained, make sure to butter it up (you can also add olive oil) so it doesn’t stick together when stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready for your skillet lasagna, simply follow our instructions above.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 375 | Calories |
| 17g | Fat |
| 30g | Carbs |
| 25g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 6 | |
| Calories 375 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 17g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol 50mg | 17% |
| Sodium 1046mg | 45% |
| Total Carbohydrate 30g | 11% |
| Protein 25g | 50% |
| Calcium 282.7mg | 22% |
| Iron 2.7mg | 15% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.