Easy One Pot Skillet Lasagna
There’s nothing like a warm and comforting meal on a chilly day, and this Spicy Skillet Lasagna is just the thing to satisfy your cravings. Made with flavorful Italian sausage, peppers and onions, and tender lasagna noodles simmered in a delicious tomato sauce, it brings all the best flavors of traditional lasagna without the extra effort. Finished in about 30 minutes and topped with gooey mozzarella and Parmesan, this one pot dish is a family favorite—and once you try it, it just might become one in yours too!
If you love the flavors of lasagna but don’t have time to make one this meal is perfect for you! It has all the hearty tomato, beefy flavor of lasagna with tender noodles and melted cheese. It is the perfect easy and delicious dish for when you are craving hearty lasagna!
This version of skillet lasagna is a little different from some other recipes. My family doesn’t love ricotta cheese so I’ve made this recipe without it. You can add it if you’d like- check out the tips section below!
Easy Skillet Lasagna- With No Ricotta Cheese
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Medium Onion diced
- 2 Red Bell Peppers diced or sliced
- 5 Cloves Garlic minced minced
- 1 Pound Italian Sausage
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/3 Cup Tomato Paste
- 1 28 oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
- 2-4 Cups Chicken Broth
- 16 oz Box Lasagna Noodles broken into large pieces
- 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella
- 1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan
- Chopped fresh parsley optional
- Salt & Pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large skillet add the oil, onions and peppers and cook over a medium to high heat, for 4-5 minutes until the veggies start to soften a little.
- Add in the garlic and Italian sausage, stir and cook until the sausage is browned and crumbled.
- Add the oregano, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes with juice, and 2 cups of chicken broth. Stir until everything is mixed together thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add in the broken lasagna noodles.
- Turn to low heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally until the noodles are softened and the sauce thickened, if necessary add in another 1-2 cups of chicken broth to soften noodles and thin the sauce if desired.
- Once done add the mozzarella in and stir. Ladle the pasta into bowls and top with extra mozzarella, parmesan and fresh parsley (optional)
- Other Recipes You’ll Love-
- Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta- This creamy Italian sausage pasta is an easy weeknight dinner that is full of incredible flavor! Tender pasta is covered with a creamy sauce, spicy Italian sausage, sun dried tomatoes and spinach! It is an easy dinner that is simple to throw together for a weeknight meal!
- Vegetarian Baked Ziti– Baked ziti is a delicious, hearty, cheesy, classic comfort food that everyone loves! This baked ziti recipe is meat free so it is perfect for vegetarians and everyone loves it!
- Creamy Parmesan Italian Sausage Soup– If you’re looking for a delicious, flavorful and hearty soup look no further. This creamy parmesan Italian sausage soup has a delicious creamy broth, tasty sausage, sundried tomatoes and hearty kale. It is always a hit every time I make it!
Ingredient Notes for Skillet Lasagna-
- Olive Oil- This is used for sautéing the vegetables. If you prefer another cooking oil you can use it instead.
- Onion- I like to use a yellow onion for this recipe but you can also use a white or Vidalia onion. I like to finely dice mine so they disperse well in the sauce.
- Red Bell Peppers– You can use green peppers or yellow peppers if you prefer. If you want them to blend into the sauce finely dice them. If you prefer larger pieces you can slice them.
- Garlic– You can use fresh minced garlic or jarred minced garlic, they will both work well.
- Italian Sausage- You can use mild or spicy sausage whichever you prefer. I like to buy bulk sausage with no casings. If you can only find links you can remove the casings before cooking. You can also swap out the sausage for other ground meat like ground beef, ground pork or ground chicken and season it however you prefer.
- Oregano– Dried oregano adds a great flavor to the sauce. If you prefer fresh oregano you can use it instead.
- Italian Seasoning– Italian seasoning is a blend of spices that add great flavor to this sauce. Make sure yours is fresh for the best taste.
- Tomato Paste- This helps thicken the sauce and add a ton of delicious tomato flavor.
- Crushed Tomatoes– These make a great sauce base. Don’t drain them you’ll be using the juices. You can also use finely diced canned tomatoes if you prefer larger chunks. If you have fresh tomatoes you can crush them in a food processor or peel and finely dice them.
- Chicken Broth – Cooking the pasta in chicken broth instead of water helps add a ton of flavor. You can also use chicken stock or chicken bullion. Beef broth or vegetable broth will also work if you don’t have chicken broth.
- Lasagna Noodles – Broken up lasagna noodles are the base of this easy skillet lasagna recipe. You’ll want the regular kind not the quick cooking ones. If you prefer you can make this recipe with other shapes of pasta, the cooking time may vary.
- Shredded Mozzarella– Mozzarella adds a ton of delicious cheesiness to this recipe. It is best to use freshly shredded but you can use pre-shredded to save time.
- Parmesan– You can use your favorite type of parmesan cheese for this recipe. Whether you prefer freshly shredded, pre-shredded or grated you can use what you love!
- Fresh Parsley – This is optional but it adds a nice fresh flavor and a dash of color to this tasty dish!
How to Make Easy Skillet Lasagna –
In a large skillet add the oil, onions and peppers and cook over a medium to high heat, for 4-5 minutes until the veggies start to soften a little.
Add in the garlic and Italian sausage, stir and cook until the sausage is browned and crumbled.
Add the oregano, Italian seasoning, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes with juice, and 2 cups of chicken broth. Stir until everything is mixed together thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a boil.
Break the lasagna noodles into about 4 pieces and place in the pot.
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Turn to low heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes stirring occasionally until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickened, if necessary add in another 1-2 cups of chicken broth to soften noodles and thin the sauce if desired.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Once done add the mozzarella in and stir. Scoop the pasta into bowls and top with extra mozzarella, parmesan and fresh parsley (optional)
FAQ & Tips for This Skillet Lasagna Recipe
How to store leftovers-
This stores well refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
How to add ricotta or cottage cheese-
My family prefers traditional lasagna made with cottage cheese and you can use it or ricotta in this recipe. If you want to add either use 1/2 a cup. You can season it with 1/2 a teaspoon of Italian Seasoning 1/4 tsp of garlic powder and a pinch of salt. Once the pasta noodles are softened you can dollop it around the pan and continue to cook another 5 minutes until the cheese is heated through.
Can I use a jarred pasta sauce?
Yes! If you are looking for a shortcut to make this one pan meal even easier you can swap out the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, oregano and Italian seasoning for your favorite jarred marinara sauce, pasta sauce or even vodka sauce. You may need to adjust your chicken broth amounts to add or reduce the liquid.
What to serve with this recipe?
This is such an easy family dinner we like to pair it with simple sides! It is perfect with garlic bread, air fryer garlic knots, or breadsticks. You can serve it up with your favorite veggie or a tasty side salad.
Can I bake this so it is more like regular lasagna?
Yes! If you love the crispy edges and bubbly cheese of traditional lasagna you can mimic it with this skillet lasagna recipe. Make sure to assemble your dish in an oven safe skillet (a cast iron skillet works well) once it is cooked cover it with cheese and place the skillet under the broiler for a few minutes to melt the cheese and crisp the edges. Cook until the cheese is melted and browned to your desired amount.
