Skillet lasagna takes less time to make than traditional lasagna and the results are just as delicious. It’s filled with tender lasagna noodles, pasta sauce, cheese and ground beef.
Get ready for an ooey-gooey cheesy recipe that your family is sure to love.
Skillet Lasagna
This easy skillet lasagna takes traditional lasagna and makes it quick and fast! All you need is a skillet (or frying pan) and a few simple ingredients to make this delicious meal.
Lasagna Noodles
For a healthier option, I’m using brown rice lasagna noodles which are gluten-free, easy to digest, and high in fiber.
You can also use regular lasagna noodles or mafaldine noodles.
For this recipe, each lasagna noodle is broken into three pieces then cooked in boiling water for 7-10 minutes.
How To Make Skillet Lasagna:
The process to make skillet lasagna is very simple. You’ll need a skillet (or frying pan) and a pot to boil the noodles in. Here are the steps to making this delicious lasagna recipe:
BOIL LASAGNA NOODLES 7-10 MINUTES: Break each lasagna noodle into three pieces. Then add to boiling water and cook for 7-10 minutes, or according to package instructions. Stir often to help prevent noodles from sticking, but I still had a few do this. Once cooked al dente, drain in a colander and rinse with cold water.
Tip: Once cool, peel apart any noodles that were stuck together during the cooking process.
BROWN THE BEEF: While pasta is boiling, start cooking the diced onion over medium-high heat until they turn translucent. Add the ground beef and cook until it’s no longer pink.
STIR IN INGREDIENTS: Stir in Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and season with salt and pepper (as much or as little as you want). Add the pasta sauce and reduce heat to let simmer for 3-4 minutes. Add the cottage cheese and lasagna noodles. Cook an additional 2-3 minutes to warm the noodles through.
TOP WITH CHEESE: Add chopped parsley (optional) and shredded mozzarella cheese to the top of the skillet. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes to help melt the cheese. Remove from heat and scoop onto dishes and serve.
How To Make Skillet Lasagna Healthier:
- Try brown rice lasagna noodles: These are gluten-free, easy to digest and a great source of fiber. Traditional pasta noodles are made with refined flour that has been stripped of its fiber which can cause an increased spike in blood sugar levels. The fiber in whole grains like brown rice helps to slow down digestion.
- Choose healthier pasta sauce: Many pasta sauces are high in sugar and added preservatives. Choose one that has no added sugar and minimal additives like this marinara sauce.
- Use Less cheese: This recipe calls for 1 cup of cottage cheese, whereas most recipes use double or even triple and use ricotta cheese which typically has more calories. I’m using 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, however, you could reduce that to only 1 cup and it would still be delicious.
- Serve with a side salad instead of bread: Load up on the vegetables instead of refined carbs with a side salad like my kale caesar salad or garlic salad with herb dressing.
- Eat a smaller portion of lasagna and a larger portion of salad: It’s a simple trick, but an effective one! Eat half of what you might normally eat for lasagna and double what you normally would for a salad.
Is Skillet Lasagna Better With Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese?
The answer for this will vary from person to person. But, here’s why I like to use cottage cheese as an alternative to ricotta cheese in my lasagna…
I don’t like to use a whole container of cottage cheese in this recipe to help make it healthier, so I have leftovers.
Ricotta cheese isn’t as versatile for a variety of dishes and is typically a bit more expensive.
Cottage cheese has a milder flavor and fewer calories than ricotta cheese. With leftover cottage cheese you can spread it on toast, or eat with berries for a breakfast. So basically it’s more versatile, less expensive and lower in calories.
How Do You Avoid Watery Lasagna?
To avoid watery lasagna, make sure to drain the cheese you’re using beforehand. Cottage cheese tends to have a lot of liquid in the container. Avoid adding this to the recipe by adding the cheese to a strainer first to let all the liquids drain out.
More Family Dinner Ideas To Try:
- Sheet Pan Fajitas – a healthy dinner that’s made entirely in one sheet pan.
- Bruschetta Chicken – chicken breasts are loaded with flavor from tomatoes, fresh basil and mozzarella cheese in this easy dinner recipe.
- Honey Garlic Salmon – light and flaky salmon in a fresh honey lemon garlic sauce.
- Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Skillet – a simple healthy recipe that’s made all in one skillet! This is a popular recipe that kids love.
Skillet Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 garlic cloves - minced
- ½ yellow onion - diced
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- 1 22 oz jar of pasta sauce
- 1 cup 2% cottage cheese - drained of excess liquid
- 8 lasagna noodles - broken into three pieces
- 1 cup chopped fresh parsley - optional
Instructions
- Boil a pot of water. Break each lasagna noodle into three pieces and cook the pasta according to package instructions. Stir often to help prevent pasta pieces from sticking together. Once cooked, drain and rinse with cold water. Peel apart any pieces that have stuck together.
- In a skillet over medium high heat, add cooking oil, onion, and garlic. Cook until onions become translucent. Add in the ground beef and cook until beef is no longer pink.
- Stir in the italian seasoning, and garlic powder. Pour the jar of pasta sauce in and mix everything together. Reduce heat to let simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add in ricotta cheese and the cooked pasta pieces. Mix everything together and let simmer an additional °2-3 minutes.
- Sprinkle the top of the skillet with mozzarella cheese and chopped parsley (optional). Let simmer for 1-2 more minutes to help cheese melt. Remove from heat and scoop onto plates to serve.
Notes
- Serve with a side salad like my kale caesar salad or garden salad with herb dressing.
- Storage Instructions: Skillet lasagna can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to one week.
- Freezer Instructions: Let the lasagna cool completely, then add to a freezer bag or container and remove as much air as possible. Seal tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Thawing Instructions: Let the lasagna thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat using either the microwave or oven. This recipe can be reheated at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
