Easy Skillet Lasagna – One Pan, No-Boil Lasagna

This easy skillet lasagna has all the cheesy, saucy comfort of traditional lasagna without boiling the noodles, layering ingredients, or turning on the oven. Ground beef, marinara sauce, broken lasagna noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan all come together in one skillet for an easy family dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.

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Traditional lasagna is one of those dinners my family loves, but it’s not always something I want to tackle on a weeknight. Between boiling the noodles, making the meat sauce, layering everything and waiting for it to bake, it can turn into a project.

This one pan skillet lasagna gives you those same flavors in a much easier way. The lasagna noodles cook directly in the meat sauce, so there’s no separate pot of boiling water. Once they’re tender, everything gets topped with creamy ricotta and plenty of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

It’s warm, cheesy, filling and exactly the kind of dinner I love when I want something homemade without spending all night in the kitchen.

If easy pasta dinners are always a hit at your house, you’ll also want to try my Dump and Bake No-Boil Spaghetti, Easy Creamy One Pot Beef and Shells, and One Pot Feta and Tomato Pasta. They’re all simple dinners made for those nights when you need to get something on the table without a lot of prep.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Skillet Lasagna

There is so much to love about this simplified version of classic lasagna.

• One-pan dinner – The meat, sauce and lasagna noodles all cook in the same skillet, which means fewer dishes to wash.
• No boiling the noodles – The dry lasagna noodles cook right in the sauce.
• No layering – You get all the flavors of lasagna without carefully assembling individual layers.
• Easy weeknight dinner – It’s much faster and easier than traditional baked lasagna.
• Family friendly – Ground beef, pasta, tomato sauce and lots of cheese make this an easy dinner the whole family can enjoy.
• Simple ingredients – Everything you need can easily be found at your regular grocery store.
• Easy to customize – Change the meat, cheese or sauce depending on what your family likes.

Ingredients for Skillet Lasagna

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy one pan lasagna. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

• Ground beef – Gives the skillet lasagna a hearty, meaty base. I like using lean ground beef so there isn’t too much grease left in the pan.
• Onion – Adds extra flavor to the ground beef and tomato sauce.
• Garlic – Fresh minced garlic gives the meat sauce much more flavor.
• Italian seasoning – An easy way to add oregano, basil and other classic Italian flavors without measuring several different spices.
• Marinara sauce – Using your favorite jarred marinara is one of the shortcuts that makes this recipe so easy.
• Water or beef broth – Provides the extra liquid needed to cook the dry lasagna noodles directly in the skillet.
• Lasagna noodles – Regular dry lasagna noodles are broken into smaller pieces so they cook easily in the sauce.
• Ricotta cheese – Gives you those creamy pockets of cheese you expect in traditional lasagna.
• Mozzarella cheese – Melts over the top for that gooey, cheesy lasagna finish.
• Parmesan cheese – Adds a salty, nutty flavor that balances the mozzarella and ricotta.
• Fresh basil or parsley – Optional, but I love adding a little over the top before serving.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

This stovetop lasagna is much easier than traditional lasagna because everything cooks together in one skillet.

Step 1: Brown the Ground Beef

Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook, breaking the beef apart with a wooden spoon, until the meat is browned and the onion has softened.

Drain any excess grease from the skillet if necessary.

Step 2: Add the Garlic and Seasoning

Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the cooked beef.

Cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly, until the garlic is fragrant.

Cooking the garlic briefly before adding the sauce helps bring out more flavor without allowing it to burn.

Step 3: Make the Meat Sauce

Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet along with the water or beef broth.

Stir everything together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

Step 4: Add the Lasagna Noodles

Break the dry lasagna noodles into approximately 2-inch pieces and add them directly to the skillet.

Stir well so the noodles are distributed throughout the sauce and mostly submerged in the liquid.

Step 5: Simmer Until the Pasta Is Tender

Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover the skillet.

Let the lasagna simmer until the noodles are tender, stirring every few minutes so the pasta cooks evenly and doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

If the mixture becomes too thick before the noodles are fully cooked, add a small splash of water or broth.

Step 6: Add the Ricotta

Once the noodles are tender, gently stir part of the mozzarella and Parmesan into the lasagna.

Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese evenly over the top.

You don’t need to completely stir in the ricotta. Leaving little pockets of it throughout the skillet makes this taste much more like traditional layered lasagna.

Step 7: Add the Cheese

Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top.

Cover the skillet again and cook for another few minutes, just until the cheese is completely melted.

Step 8: Garnish and Serve

Remove the skillet from the heat and let the lasagna rest for about 5 minutes.

Top with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving.

Watch How to Make It

Expert Tips for the Best Skillet Lasagna

A few simple tricks will give you perfectly tender noodles and a thick, cheesy sauce every time.

• Use a deep skillet. A 12-inch skillet with higher sides gives the noodles enough room to cook without sauce bubbling over the edge.
• Break the noodles into smaller pieces. Pieces around 2 inches are much easier to stir and eat than large sections of lasagna noodles.
• Keep the noodles covered with sauce. Push any exposed pasta down into the liquid so it cooks evenly.
• Stir while the pasta cooks. Give everything a gentle stir every few minutes to prevent noodles from sticking together or sticking to the bottom.
• Keep it at a gentle simmer. Boiling the sauce too aggressively can cause the liquid to evaporate before the noodles have finished cooking.
• Add liquid as needed. Different brands of pasta can absorb slightly different amounts of liquid. If the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is tender, add a splash of broth or water.
• Don’t overmix the ricotta. Dolloping the ricotta over the top gives you creamy bites that make the finished skillet taste more like classic lasagna.
• Let it rest before serving. The sauce will continue to thicken as the skillet lasagna sits for a few minutes.

Can You Make Lasagna Without Boiling the Noodles First?

Yes! That’s one of the reasons this skillet lasagna recipe is so easy.

Instead of boiling the lasagna noodles in a separate pot, the dry noodles cook directly in the marinara sauce and added liquid. As the noodles simmer, they absorb the liquid and flavor from the meat sauce.

The key is making sure there is enough liquid in the skillet and stirring occasionally so the noodles cook evenly.

It’s the same basic idea as other one-pot pasta recipes: the pasta and sauce cook together rather than separately.

Recipe Variations

This easy lasagna skillet is also simple to customize with ingredients you already have on hand.

• Italian sausage skillet lasagna – Replace the ground beef with mild or hot Italian sausage for even more flavor.
• Ground turkey lasagna – Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter variation.
• Spicy skillet lasagna – Add crushed red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage.
• Extra cheesy lasagna – Add additional mozzarella or Parmesan over the top.
• Spinach skillet lasagna – Stir fresh baby spinach into the sauce during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Vegetable skillet lasagna – Add chopped zucchini, mushrooms, bell peppers or spinach.
• Cottage cheese lasagna – Substitute cottage cheese for the ricotta if that’s what you prefer or already have in the refrigerator.

What to Serve With Skillet Lasagna

Because this lasagna is rich and hearty, simple sides work best.

• Garlic bread – Perfect for scooping up the extra meat sauce.
• Side salad – A crisp green salad balances the rich pasta and cheese.
• Caesar salad – The creamy dressing and crunchy romaine pair perfectly with lasagna.
• Roasted broccoli – An easy vegetable side that can cook while you prepare dinner.
• Green beans – Keep them simply seasoned with butter, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Bread dipping oil – Serve warm crusty bread with dipping oil for an easy Italian-inspired dinner.

Make Ahead and Storage

Skillet lasagna is best right after it’s made, but leftovers reheat really well.

• Make ahead: You can brown the ground beef, onion and garlic ahead of time and refrigerate the mixture in an airtight container. When you’re ready to make dinner, return it to the skillet and continue with the sauce and pasta.
• Refrigerator: Store leftover skillet lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
• Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm larger portions in a covered skillet over low heat. Add a tablespoon or two of water or marinara sauce if the pasta seems dry.
• Freezer: Let the lasagna cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2–3 months.
• Thawing: For best results, thaw frozen skillet lasagna overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my lasagna noodles still hard?

If your noodles are still hard, they most likely need additional liquid or cooking time. Add a small splash of water or broth, cover the skillet and continue simmering until the noodles are tender. Make sure the pasta pieces are mostly submerged in the sauce while they cook.

How do you keep skillet lasagna from getting watery?

Use only enough additional liquid to cook the noodles and allow the lasagna to rest uncovered for about 5 minutes before serving. The noodles continue absorbing sauce as they sit, which helps the skillet lasagna thicken.

Can I make skillet lasagna without ricotta?

Absolutely. You can leave the ricotta out and use additional mozzarella and Parmesan, or substitute cottage cheese. The texture will be slightly different, but you’ll still have a delicious cheesy one-pan lasagna.

You’ll Also Love

If easy, family-friendly pasta dinners are always in rotation at your house, here are a few more recipes to add to your weeknight dinner list.

• One Pot Mac and Cheese
• Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
• Easy Baked Ziti