Description
A comforting, family-friendly lasagna made entirely in one pan. Tender pasta, savory ground beef, rich tomato sauce, and plenty of melted cheese come together for an easy weeknight dinner with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
Seasonings and Sauces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 jar (24 oz / 680 g) marinara sauce
Liquids
- 2 cups beef or vegetable broth
Pasta and Cheeses
- 8–10 lasagna noodles, broken into large pieces
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onion: Heat olive oil in a large deep oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking up the beef, until browned and the onion is softened.
- Add garlic and seasonings: Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 30 seconds to release the flavors.
- Combine sauce and broth: Pour in the marinara sauce and beef or vegetable broth. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer to blend the flavors.
- Add lasagna noodles: Add broken lasagna noodles to the sauce, pressing them gently so they are mostly submerged.
- Simmer noodles: Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 15–18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender and cooked through.
- Add cheeses: Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese over the lasagna, then sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Melt cheese: Cover again and cook for 3–5 minutes until the cheese melts. For a golden browned top, place the skillet under the broiler for 1–2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and rest: Sprinkle fresh chopped basil over the top and let the lasagna rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Use oven-ready lasagna noodles if preferred; adjust the liquid amount slightly to ensure noodles cook properly.
- Ground Italian sausage can be substituted for the ground beef for a different flavor profile.
- Add spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini into the sauce for extra vegetables and nutrition.
- Let the lasagna rest briefly before serving so the sauce thickens and the dish sets for easier serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
