This easy Skillet Lasagna is loaded with Italian flavor to satisfy your craving for traditional lasagna with FAR less work. It’s a delicious one pot pasta that’s ready in about 40 minutes!

Shortcut lasagna recipes like this one and my Lazy Lasagna Casserole allow you to indulge in classic Italian comfort food on even the busiest days.

A top down shot of a Skillet Lasagna in a cast iron skillet.

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In addition to being meaty, saucy, and plenty cheesy, this Skillet Lasagna recipe is just one of many delicious ways I’ve found to sneak some extra veggies into our diet. The addition of diced zucchini and summer squash sets this recipe apart from other one pot lasagna recipes.

Why You’ll Love This One Pot Lasagna

  • It has a short list of easy to stock ingredients
  • It’s budget-friendly and appeals to all ages.
  • One pot means easy-breezy cleanup!
  • Hidden veggies add fiber, nutrition and flavor.
  • You’ll have a hearty, wholesome, delicious meal on the table in about 40 minutes.
A wooden spoon scoops lasagna from a skillet.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients for Skillet Lasagna with text.

  • Ground beef – I’ve made this Skillet Lasagna with ground beef and Italian sausage. It’s also very good with turkey sausage, like Jennie-O Hot Turkey Italian Sausage.
  • Salt and pepper
  • Zucchini and yellow summer squash – I like to use a little of both types of squash for variety.
  • Diced onion
  • Minced garlic
  • Marinara sauce – A jar of your favorite brand of marinara.
  • Canned diced tomatoes
  • Water
  • Lasagna noodles – You want to use curly-edge lasagna noodles, not the no boil sheets. You’ll break the noodles into about 4 pieces each before adding them to the skillet.
  • Part-skim ricotta cheese
  • Shredded Italian cheese blend – Instead of plain shredded mozzarella cheese, I like to use a mozzarella/provolone or Italian cheese blend for even more flavor.
  • Parmesan cheese – Either shaved or finely shredded.
  • Chopped fresh basil – An optional garnish of fresh basil is a very nice touch.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

This is a quick rundown of the steps of this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card for the amounts and more detailed instructions.

Ground beef and zucchini cooking in a skillet and marinara sauce in a bowl.
  1. In a 12-inch skillet that has a lid (a cast iron skillet works well), cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon until no pink remains.
  2. Drain off the excess grease and season the meat with salt and pepper and add the chopped zucchini, summer squash, onion, and garlic.
  3. Continue to cook until the vegetables are tender when pierced with a fork.
  4. Meanwhile, combine the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and water in a medium mixing bowl.
Broken lasagna noodles, sauce, and cheese in a skillet.
  1. Break each uncooked lasagna noodle into 4 pieces and place them over the meat in the skillet.
  2. Pour the marinara mixture evenly over the pasta, making sure that the edges are covered.
  3. Bring to a good simmer then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes.
  4. Remove the cover, place dollops of ricotta over the surface of the lasagna, and sprinkle with the cheese. Cover and cook until the cheese melts. Garnish with basil and serve.
A top down shot of Skillet Lasagna next to a bowl of lasagna.

Skillet Lasagna Variations

  • Lighten it up with ground turkey or turkey Italian sausage in place of the ground beef.
  • Add chopped mushrooms or other veggies you love in place of or in addition to the squash.
  • Try it with fire roasted diced tomatoes.
  • For spicy Skillet Lasagna, add about ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce mixture.
A top down shot of one pot lasagna in a bowl.

Serving Suggestions

And, of course, a nice glass of red. Cheers!

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Skillet Lasagna

5 from 2 votes
Servings: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
This easy Skillet Lasagna is loaded with Italian flavor to satisfy your craving for traditional lasagna with FAR less work. It's a delicious one pot pasta that's ready in about 40 minutes!
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Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage, can substitute turkey Italian sausage
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup diced zucchini
  • 1 cup diced summer squash
  • ½ cup diced yellow onion
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 25 ounces marinara sauce
  • 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 cup water
  • 10 curly edged lasagna noodles, each broken into 4 pieces
  • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1 cup shredded Italian blend cheese, like mozzarella/provolone or 4-cheese Italian
  • cup shaved or grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup chopped fresh basil

Instructions 

  • Coat a deep 12-inch skillet with nonstick cooking spray and place over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Cook the ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, until no pink remains. Drain off as much of the grease as you can and return the pan to the heat. Season the meat with salt and pepper and add the chopped zucchini, summer squash, onion, and garlic. Continue to cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fork tender.
  • Meanwhile, combine the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and water in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside.
  • Add the broken, uncooked lasagna noodles to the skillet, covering the meat. Pour the marinara mixture evenly over the pasta, making sure that the edges are covered. Bring to a good simmer then reduce the heat to MEDIUM, cover the skillet, and simmer for 25 minutes.
  • Remove the cover and drop small spoonful's of the ricotta over the surface of the lasagna. Sprinkle with shredded Italian blend cheese and Parmesan. Cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 495kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 1218mg | Potassium: 1063mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1105IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 335mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

Like this? Please rate & comment below!

This post was originally published on March 24, 2013. It has been updated with new text and images.

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About Valerie Brunmeier

Hello and welcome to my online kitchen! My focus here is to provide simple, seasonal meal solutions for busy households. I hope you find some inspiration while you’re here and visit again soon!

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Questions & Reviews

  1. Lynna says:

    Oh my…this looks divine!! I love lasagna, but I’ve never made it before. I would love to try this version first.

  2. Aggie says:

    I am so all over this dish Valerie. I know my kids (& hubby) will love it and I will love making it 🙂 I’ve never made a skillet lasagna and I honestly can’t believe it – great recipe!

  3. bikerfamily says:

    5 stars
    Valerie: I am eating leftovers of your Skillet Lasagna as I browse your website again! My husband LOVED it! I’m surprised he shared the leftovers with me.

    1. Valerie says:

      So glad to hear it! I’m also glad your husband is sharing. The cook should always get some of the leftovers 🙂

  4. Val says:

    I have never made skillet lasagna…have I been living under a rock all these years??? Incredible recipe, Val.

    1. Valerie says:

      Thanks Val 🙂

  5. Lillian @ My Recipe Journey says:

    I love skillet lasagna! I’ve made it a few times! You just reminded me to make it again! I love your ‘step by step’ pics! I don’t like breaking the lasagna noodles as much as you do because mine never break how I want them to break! I know, I’m too anal about it! lol!

  6. Nami | Just One Cookbook says:

    I come to your site when I need to feed a lot of people. This is another winner. I love how homey it looks and sounds when lasagna is being served in a skillet. Looks so good. You always make dishes that I wish it’s my dinner. 🙂

  7. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says:

    This is such a great idea, and looks so mouthwatering! Thanks for sharing, Valerie! Saving to try this very, very soon…

  8. Anita at Hungry Couple says:

    I love it! Perfect in every respect!

  9. mjskit says:

    Oh this is SO much easier than making a lasagne casserole! So glad that you don’t have to pre-cook the noodles. Great recipe!

  10. Nancy/SpicieFoodie says:

    Oh how I love all the promises of this dish. Your lasagana looks mouthwatering, how I wish I had a piece right now. I love lasagna but it takes too long so I don’t make it often. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!!

  11. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says:

    Holy moses.

    This looks amazing. So simple yet perfect.

  12. Heather | Heather Likes Food says:

    Oh boy.. I need a BIG plate of that right now! Looks scrumptious!