Easy Skillet Lasagna

Homemade Skillet Lasagna

We're big lasagna fans at my house, but because it takes a lot of time and effort, I don't make it that often. Frozen package lasagna works fine, but I'm not really a frozen or package kind of person (no judgement to those who are).

This recipe is SUPER easy and I'll offer you tips along the way to help streamline the process.

Skillet Lasagna
For this recipe you will need:

1 lb ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken or pork-it really doesn't matter)
1 - jar pasta sauce (you could also use homemade)
1 - 10 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 small onion, chopped
1 - teaspoon chopped garlic
Lasagna Noodles - any kind
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Ricotta cheese (optional)
Salt, pepper, olive oil, fennel seed, basil, oregano

Skillet with a lid

A Word about Lasagna Noodles:

"No boil" lasagna noodles are a big thing now. What I've known for YEARS is that all lasagna noodles are no boil. You never have to boil a lasagna noodle again if you don't want to.

Whole wheat lasagna noodles need to be cooked longer than regular noodles. If you're using whole wheat noodles, soak them in hot water while you prep the rest of this dish. If you're using regular noodles and you're short on time, soak the noodles in hot water. If you're making this dish and you've got 20 minutes or so to let it simmer, you don't have to prep the noodles at all.

Instructions:

I made this dish with whole wheat noodles. Whole wheat noodles need to cook a little longer than regular noodles. To cut down on cooking time I soaked my noodles.

break noodles into a bowl

To soak lasagna noodles: break about 5 noodles into large pieces and place them in a heat safe bowl. Cover the noodles with hot water and allow them to soak while you prep the rest of the dish.

Cover the noodles with hot or boiling water

Heat olive oil in a pan and add chopped onions.

Saute Onions in olive oil

Add 1 lb of ground meat (I used ground turkey)

Saute ground meat

Add the seasonings (salt, pepper, a few fennel seeds, basil, oregano). I use sausage seasoning in all of my Italian cooking.

My favorite sausage seasoning!

Once the meat is browned and seasoned, add 1/2 cup of water.

Brown the meat and add 1/2 c water

Cover the meat with pasta sauce (homemade or jar). Then drain and add a layer of noodles.

Drain and add the noodles.

Layer in the noodles

Add 1/2 the can of crushed tomatoes.

layer in tomatoes

Then add another layer of noodles.

The final layer should always be sauce

The noodles need to be covered with sauce to cook properly, so the final layer is always sauce.

Cover and Cook

Place a lid on the skillet and allow it to cook over medium heat for approx 20 minutes or until the noodles are tender.

Top with mozzarella cheese

Top the dish with shredded mozzarella cheese. Replace the lid just long enough for the cheese to melt.

Time to eat!

My kids LOVED this dish!!!!

My kids went NUTS for this dish!

I have 1 child who hates EVERYTHING - he had 3 helpings!

Leftovers

PRO TIPS:
Use a heavy bottom skillet for this dish. Thinner pans get hot spots and my result in burned spots.

SUPER PRO TIP:
Substitute Spinach and garlic for meat and make a vegetarian version.