The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Skillet Lasagna recipe is an economical family dinner that is both cheaper and easier to make than the original! It serves 6 and costs $11.02 to make. That’s just $1.84 per serving!
Do you guys use Marco Polo? We love it! We use it to communicate all of our Easy Budget Recipe team needs. For those who do not know what it is, it is basically a video messaging app.
We send videos to each other at all times of the day. Sometimes kids come in and say a quick hello during the video or we send messages while cooking dinner or when we are about to go to bed.
The point is because we are sending messages to each other every day, it lends itself to talk about how busy we are with all the running around we do. Just last night, Beth sent a message at 8 PM while waiting in the school parking lot to pick up her daughter. She suggested we create a recipe that we can cook in the car because she had been in the car since 4 PM and dinner was not ready yet!
Man, if only we really could do that. We would solve a lot of problems for all you busy moms I am sure!
SKILLET LASAGNA
While we can’t give you a recipe that you can cook in the car we can give you a recipe that is quick and easy and only uses one pot. That helps just a little right? The Skillet Lasagna recipe will make those busy nights a little less hectic. The lasagna is made in one skillet so you are not left with a sink full of dishes after dinner.
We love the classic traditional lasagna just as much as the next person, but sometimes we just do not have the time it takes to make it; we need to make it in the skillet in a lot less time. With all the prep-work involved, who has time for that during the week? And the layering? Forget about it! Try out this Skillet Lasagna, it is so easy!
Skillet Lasagna Recipe Questions Answered:
What is the lasagna noodles called?
One noodle is called lasagna. But if you have more than one noodle it is actually called lasagne. So a dish using more than one lasagna noodle should actually be called lasagne. Do you ever call it this? I don’t that’s for sure. It’s always lasagna for me.
Is lasagna a pasta?
Yes, lasagna is a pasta. The lasagna noodle is a wide flat sheet of pasta. You typically cook a lot of lasagna noodles and layer them between meat, sauce, and cheeses to make a lasagna dish.
How to Make Skillet Lasagna Recipe:
- First, cook the ground sausage over medium heat adding the onion once it is mostly cooked.
- Add the garlic once the onion is clear and soft and the sausage is cooked through and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Next, add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and stir until combined.
- Then stir in the seasonings and stir. Next, add lasagna noodles to the sauce ensuring you press down the noodles as much as possible into the sauce. Cover the pan and stir occasionally as it simmers over medium heat for 15-20 minutes.
- Once the noodles are soft, stir in a cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Finally, top with dollops of ricotta cheese and serve with additional mozzarella cheese and basil if desired.
How to get the kids involved with this recipe:
- Ages 2-3: Let them help scoop the dollops of ricotta cheese on top of the skillet lasagna.
- Ages 4-5: Let them help measure out and stir in the seasonings. They can also sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top.
- Ages 6-8: Teach them how to cook the sausage and let them add in the additional ingredients.
- Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
- Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.
The flavor and Recipe Variations:
- For a little healthier version uses ground turkey and whole wheat lasagna noodles.
- if you do not have ground sausage on hand you can also use ground beef.
What to Serve with Skillet Lasagna:
Make some 1-Hour French Bread or Easy Garlic Bread and serve it with your favorite salad kit.
More $15 recipes:
- 15-Minute Skillet Tilapia
- American Goulash
- Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
- Cindy’s Easy Sausage Gumbo
- Easy Baked Pork Chops with Apples
- Easy Beef Chili
- Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
- Large-Batch Chicken Pasta Salad
- Mexican Chicken Rice Bowls
- One Pan Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Rice
How long is this good for:
- Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this lasagna out for longer than 2 hours.
- Store: Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
- Freeze: Place in individual freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
How much will this Skillet Lasagna cost:
RECIPE COST: $11.02
PRICE PER SERVING: $1.84
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage – $3.48
- 1 medium yellow onion – $0.62
- 3 garlic cloves minced – $0.15
- 29-ounce can tomato sauce – $1.64
- 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes – $0.98
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil – $0.10
- 1/2 teaspoon salt – $0.01
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper – $0.01
- 3/4 pound lasagna noodles – $1.44
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese – $1.15
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese – $1.44
Cook’s Tools:
- large covered skillet
- wooden spoon
Skillet Lasagna
Equipment
- Large covered skillet
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 3 large garlic cloves minced
- 29- ounce can tomato sauce
- 14.5- ounce can diced tomato
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¾ pound lasagna noodles broken into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
TOPPINGS:
- 1 cup Ricotta cheese at room temperature
- Shredded mozzarella cheese optional
- Chopped fresh basil optional
Instructions
- Add the ground sausage to a large skillet and cook over medium heat while stirring. Once the sausage is mostly cooked add the diced onion to cook.
- When the onion is translucent and soft and sausage is cooked through add the minced garlic. Cook for an additional 30 seconds.
- Add the tomato sauce and diced tomato to the skillet. Stir to combine.
- Add seasonings and stir. Add lasagna noodles to the sauce. Press the noodles down as much as possible into the sauce. Cover the pan and allow it to simmer over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Once the noodles are softened add in a cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir to combine.
- Top with dollops of ricotta cheese.
- Serve with additional mozzarella cheese and freshly chopped basil (both optional).
Debbie Welchert says
What a lot of great tips and the wonderful recipe. I can’t wait to give it a try.
Jess Jankowski says
Thanks for your feedback Debbie!
Erica Schwarz says
This was DELICIOUS! The whole family loved it and I loved saving the money. Breaking up the lasagna noodles is such a clever trick.
Jess Jankowski says
So happy to hear that you loved it!! My 5 year old loves breaking up the noodles in this recipe! Thank you for your feedback.
Liz says
I’m so excited to find a lasagna recipe for a skillet! I love not having to heat up the oven!
Jess Jankowski says
It is life changing!!
Beth Hern says
Yum, I never thought about making it this way. This looks so much simpler and only one pot. I had lasagna on my meal plan this week and will be trying it this way. Thanks for the recipe.
Jess Jankowski says
It is so much easier! Enjoy your extra time!!
Jacqueline Bob says
Looks delicious. Mmmmmm and cheesy. I can’t wait to make this
Jess Jankowski says
You’re going to love it. Enjoy!
Wendy Collins says
My family loves my homemade lasagna and so I’ve been hesitant to try this recipe. But it’s hard to make that during the week after a long day at work. I finally tried the skillet lasagna out, and man was it not only easy to make, but delicious!! Even my most picky eater had seconds!! I knew everyone would be comparing it to the oven-baked layered lasagna….but this passed the test!!! I’ll definitely include this as a go-to for a week-night quick and easy meal that feels like a fancier weekend dinner!
Jess Jankowski says
Wendy we are thrilled it was such a hit! Thank you for your review!
Calvin says
Nice and easy recipe, good for these tough times.
Jess Jankowski says
Definitely!