Easy Skillet Lasagna with Italian Sausage - Great Taste in Half the Time
Skillet Lasagna is ridiculously easy to make and only uses one pan for cooking and serving. This simple lasagna recipe with Italian sausage has fewer calories than classic lasagna and cooks on the stove in minutes. Great taste in half the time!
Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon of salt and cook until the onion has softened about 5 minutes.
While the onions are cooking, pour the diced tomatoes with their juice into a quart measuring cup. Add enough water to measure 4 cups in total.
Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the onions and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add the sausage and break up the meat into small pieces. Cook until the pork is no longer pink, which should take about 5 minutes. Drain off any accumulated fat or grease.
Break up the lasagna noodles and place over the meat mixture. Pour the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce over the pasta. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the top and mix well. Cover and bring to a simmer.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
Check after 15 minutes and add additional water if the sauce is starting to dry out. Cook for an additional 15 minutes or until the lasagna noodles are tender and can be cut easily with a fork.
Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in parmesan cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Dot the top of the mixture with the ricotta cheese and top with mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to melt the cheese.
Before serving garnish with basil. Serve immediately.
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Notes
Sharon's Expert Tips:
Just like classic lasagna, skillet lasagna leftovers are even better the next day.
If you don't have lasagna noodles, substitute your favorite pasta.
You can also substitute ground beef, ground chicken or turkey or a combination for the Italian sausage. If you do, I would add another shake of the Italian seasonings and maybe an additional pinch of red pepper flakes.
Be sure to stir the sausage, tomato, and noodle mixture thoroughly and separate the noodle pieces with a fork while they are cooking. If the noodles stick together, they will not cook properly.
Feel free to customize this recipe with the addition of a handful of mushrooms, spinach, kale, bell peppers or any vegetable your family likes.
This recipe works best with a deep-sided skillet (at least 2.5 inches deep) to keep the sauce from overflowing on your stove.
Italian sausage is sold in both links and as ground sausage. This recipe uses ground sausage. In a pinch, if you can't find ground sausage, you can buy the links and remove the casings.
I used purchased ricotta cheese in this recipe, however, it's easy to make your own. Check out this easy recipe from Pudge Factor for homemade ricotta cheese.