Lasagna is at the top of the comfort food pyramid. Not a lot of people could argue about that, but if you've ever tried to make it from scratch, you know what you are setting yourself up to. Multiple pots and pans, hours making marinara and bechamel sauce, then all the layering! And if you make lasagna sheets yourself - you can forget about leaving the kitchen for the whole day.
Sure, that tastes good, but what if you could achieve a similar or even better-tasting lasagna, and it would only take you 30min and one pot? Sounds too good to be true? Try this easy skillet lasagna recipe, and you'll never look back.
Easy skillet lasagna recipe FAQ
Our easy skillet lasagna recipe really is as easy as that! All you need is a cast iron skillet set, a few easy lasagna ingredients, and 3 minutes of spare time!
In case you had a few queries, though, our chefs answer the most frequently asked questions in the following section of our easy skillet lasagna recipe. Keep reading to find out how to perfect your 30-minute, one pot lasagna.
Do I have to use Italian sausage?
What we love most about this easy skillet lasagna recipe, is the fact that it's going to be delicious no matter which meat you use as the main ingredient!
We love using Italian sausage because we love the extra flavor and spices that it adds to the recipe. But we also love using ground beef and adding in more of our own herbs to the dish too.
Skillet lasagna is super versatile, so you could also experiment and use other types of ground sausage, or any other types of ground meat such as pork, lamb, or even chicken.
Can I make this vegetarian?
You can quickly make this a meat-free, vegetarian-friendly meal by simply taking out the Italian sausage and replacing it with a ground-meat substitute. We suggest Quorn, or similar, to give the dish a similar sort of texture to the meaty one.
Alternatively, if you don't have any meat or meat-substitutes lying around, the lasagna can still taste really good just with vegetables. You can add so many different veggies into the recipe, including mushrooms, bell peppers, eggplant, or zucchinis. Just try to pick vegetables that will fry quickly in the skillet, and don't need an age to soften up!
Can I make this vegan?
Yes, you can make this a vegan skillet lasagna and cook the dish up in just as quick a time as the meat or veggie version. You will, however, need a little bit of preplanning to ensure that you have totally vegan ingredients!
Instead of meat, you'll be using vegetables of course or a meat-substitute, and instead of the cheese, you'll need to make sure you've got a vegan-cheese, or skip out on the cheese altogether. The majority of pre-made lasagna noodles are vegan these days, but it's always best to double-check the packaging before you make the purchase.
Can I use any cheese in the skillet lasagna recipe?
Our easy skillet lasagna recipe calls for shredded mozzarella and a few generous heaps of ricotta,because these two kinds of cheese will make sure that this is a super-creamy dinner.
As we keep saying, though, this is a really versatile recipe, and the idea is to use up ingredients you might have lying around in order to save time on the traditional lasagna prep. You can use many more kinds of cheese too, including grated cheddar or grated parmesan.
If you have more time to spare, you could whip up a cheese sauce to stir into the recipe too.
What heat should I cook skillet lasagna on?
While this is definitely a quick recipe, you still need to be careful about applying too much heat, too quickly. When you're sauteeing your onions and browning your ground sausage, make sure you keep the skillet on medium heat. Avoid the temptation to blast the ingredients on high heat, to speed things up, as you could just end up burning things.
Once you've added in your tomatoes and herbs, keep everything cooking on medium heat too. Again, don't rush, because you'll still have this easy skillet lasagna ready to eat in just 30 minutes, without using high heat.
Can I store easy skillet lasagna leftovers in the fridge?
If you've cooked up too much skillet lasagna, then you can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 or 3 days. Any longer than this and the lasagna will start to turn for the worse.
Once your leftovers have cooled down on the side, transfer them to an airtight, resealable container before placing it in the refrigerator. When you're hungry again, we'd recommend reheating the lasagna slowly in a skillet on low heat. This ensures that the lasagna is warmed all the way through, while not being burnt on the outside.
If you're in a hurry, then you can reheat the skillet lasagna in a microwave. Keep it covered while you're reheating, or it could get messy!
Can I freeze my skillet lasagna recipe?
If you've got too many leftovers, or you don't fancy eating your quick skillet lasagna for two meals in a row, then you can easily freeze the remainder for a later date.
Lasagna freezes well, and you can carve it up nicely into suitable portion sizes that can be frozen individually. Once the lasagna has been cooked through, allow it to cool on the side, before transferring the leftovers into a resealable, airtight container. You could use a ziplock bag, but the lasagna could lose its shape in the process.
When it's time for you to enjoy your skillet lasagna a few weeks down the line, then you can either let the dish thaw naturally on the side, or you can thaw it on low power in the microwave. Reheat the lasagna in a skillet, on low heat, to ensure it warms all the way through without burning.
Try to consume your skillet lasagna within six months of freezing, or you'll start to lose the best flavor.
Can I prepare skillet lasagna ahead of time?
Yes, you can easily prepare your skillet lasagna ahead of time and then simply reheat it later. Skillet lasagna keeps well in the fridge or the freezer, and it still tastes great when it's been reheated.
You could even prepare all the ingredients, brown the meat and sautee the onions, and then finish it off later in the day by cooking through the sauce and cheese in the skillet on the stovetop when you've got more time!
Can I use pre-made sauce?
Of course! If you're looking to save even more time on this easy skillet lasagna recipe, then you can shave off a few minutes by purchasing a pre-made sauce at the store.
You can find plenty of different brands selling all sorts of lasagna sauces, or similar Italian-inspired sauces that are packed with herbs and spices. Bolognese sauce, ragout sauce, ravioli sauce; all of these pre-made sauces will work fantastically well and will stop you from having to crush up garlic and find the herbs from the back of the pantry.
Can I make my easy skillet lasagna spicy?
Okay, so we know that lasagna isn't traditionally a spicy recipe, but you can make this quick and easy skillet lasagna a little bit more exciting by throwing in a few chili peppers, chili powder, or a dash of spicy paprika. You could also add a splash of spicy sauce or tabasco, or cook the dish using a spicy sausage such as chorizo.
It's a quick and easy way to add more flavor if you're one of those people that loves a bit of a fiery kick to your food.
Do I have to cook my lasagna in a skillet?
Okay, so the title of the recipe is titled quick skillet lasagna, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're limited to cooking this delicious one pot meal up in a cast iron skillet!
Far from it, and in fact, the beauty of this simple recipe is that you can cook it in almost any piece of cookware; that's why we love it. Sure, the skillet does make things easier for frying and sauteing, but you can also use a large cast iron wok if you want to make larger portions, or you could even use a saucepan if you're running low on available skillets
Skillet lasagna takeaways
This is a really versatile recipe (at the end of the day, it's all about saving time in the kitchen), so don't be afraid to get creative in the ways that you prepare this lasagna, and the ways that you cook it up!
That's a wrap for our quick lasagna recipe. All you need for this delicious skillet lasagna is 30-minutes (and a few more minutes to eat and do the washing up!). Why not bookmark our skillet lasagna noodle recipe for the next time you're craving some home comforts but you're short on time?
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out our other cast iron skillet recipes, like skillet cornbread, skillet chicken pot pie, or skillet chili!
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