Easy Skillet Lasagna: 15-Minute One-Pan Supper
This easy skillet lasagna recipe has all the cheesy, comforting flavour of classic lasagna—ready in just 15 minutes with one pan.
When you think of lasagna, you probably picture a bubbling dish that takes hours to prep and bake—not exactly a weeknight dinner. But what if I told you that you can get all the cheesy, savoury goodness of lasagna on the table in about 15 minutes?
That’s where this Easy Skillet Lasagna comes in. Using a few shortcuts (hello, Mafalda noodles) and one skillet, you’ll have a family-friendly meal that’s every bit as cozy and satisfying as the classic—without the long wait.
My kids especially love having this dish as leftovers in their school lunches the next day. And I love it because it’s quick, balanced, and gives me peace of mind knowing they’re heading to school with something nourishing that will actually keep them full.
Why You’ll Love This Skillet Lasagna
- One-skillet simplicity: All the flavours of lasagna without the layering, baking, and piles of dishes.
- Ready in 15 minutes: A comfort-food classic that actually works for busy weeknights.
- Flexible pasta options: Mafalda noodles give it that “lasagna feel,” but bowties, rotini, or whatever you’ve got on hand will do the trick.
- Cheesy and comforting: Ricotta and mozzarella bring that creamy, melty goodness every lasagna lover craves.
- Lunchbox-friendly: This dish reheats beautifully and makes for a satisfying next-day school lunch.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground beef, chicken, or turkey
- Onion
- Garlic
- Mafalda pasta noodles (or bowties, rotini, penne—any shape works)
- Diced tomatoes with juices
- Tomato sauce
- Italian seasoning
- Crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper
- Water or broth
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
How to Make Easy Skillet Lasagna
Brown the meat. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef, chicken, or turkey with onion and garlic until browned and softened, about 5–8 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
Add pasta + sauce. Stir in the noodles, diced tomatoes (with juices), tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. Add just enough water or broth to cover the pasta.
Simmer. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until pasta is tender (about 10–12 minutes).
Get cheesy. Stir in ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella until melted and creamy. Top with the remaining mozzarella, cover, and let it sit for 3–4 minutes until melty and bubbly.
Serve and enjoy. Dish it up family-style and watch it disappear!
Recipe Notes + Variations
As a dietitian (and a mom of three), I’m all about recipes that can be adapted to fit your family and your fridge. Think of this as a flexible base—mix and match depending on what you have on hand:
- Pasta swaps: Mafalda noodles look like mini lasagna noodles and cook quickly, but any small pasta shape will work in a pinch.
- Protein swaps: Ground beef is classic, but ground chicken, turkey, or even lentils can give this dish a new twist.
- Cheese choices: Ricotta + mozzarella are the dream team, but cottage cheese works too if that’s what you’ve got.
- Boost the veggies: Stir in chopped spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or peppers during the simmer stage for extra colour and fibre. My kids often don’t notice when I add spinach—it just melts right in.
The beauty of this recipe is that it gives you all the comfort of lasagna in a weeknight-friendly format. No layering, no fuss, just one skillet and dinner is done.
Storage Tips
This skillet lasagna makes about 10 generous cups—plenty for dinner plus leftovers. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or broth to bring it back to its creamy texture.
More 15-Minute Recipes to Try
If your family loved this skillet lasagna, here are more quick recipes from my 15-Minute Supper Series that will save you time (and sanity) on busy nights:
- Prefer spaghetti? Give my 15-minute Skillet Pasta a go.
- Love bowls? Give these Air Fryer Salmon Bowls a try.
- Warm up with Thai Chicken Noodle Soup—comforting and ready in minutes.
- Add some crunch and colour with Fiesta Salad, perfect as a quick side or light meal.
- Try Sushi Wraps—a fun, hands-on dinner kids love to help make.
- Go meatless with Lentil Taco Meat for Kids, great for taco night in a hurry.
- Spice things up with 15-Minute Korean Beef Tacos, full of flavour and family-approved.
- Bring pasta night back with Healthy BLT Pasta Salad, quick to toss together and great for leftovers.
The Bottom Line
This Easy Skillet Lasagna gives you all the comfort of a classic lasagna—without the hours in the kitchen. With just one skillet, a handful of simple ingredients, and about 15 minutes, you’ve got a cozy, cheesy, family-friendly dinner on the table.
Easy Skillet Lasagna: 15-Minute One-Pan Supper
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef chicken or turkey
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 8 oz dry mafalda pasta noodles
- 1 14.5 ounce/398 mL can diced tomatoes with juices
- 1 jar 8-ounce/236 mL tomato sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water or broth to just cover the pasta
- 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground meat. Prepare the onion and garlic, as directed, adding them to the skillet as you go. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion is soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Drain excess grease, if needed.
- Add the noodles, tomatoes with juices, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, salt and pepper. Stir in enough water or broth to just cover the mixture.
- Increase the heat to high, bring the pasta to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently, until the noodles are cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in the ricotta and 1 cup of mozzarella, until melted. Top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella. Cover, and allow cheese to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.
Notes
Sarah Remmer, RD, is a registered dietitian and mom of three, specializing in family and pediatric nutrition. She’s the founder of Centred Nutrition Collective and has nearly 20 years of experience helping families feel confident about feeding their kids.
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