This easy one pot lasagna has all the flavor and texture of traditional lasagna recipes but it comes together in a skillet in just 30 minutes. This hearty one pot recipe has layers of spicy sausage, hearty marinara, and four cheeses, nestled between tender lasagna noodles. Serve this on a busy weeknight because your family will ask for this again and again!
If you want to add more easy one pot recipes to your weekly dinner rotation, try One Pot Taco Spaghetti and Creamy Sausage Tortellini next.
One pot lasagna with ricotta is the perfect weeknight meal. Whereas traditional lasagna can possibly take up a half days time, minimally, you can whip up this recipe in less than an hour.
My recipes stem from leftover ingredients hanging around in the pantry and fridge and this recipe struck gold! I included every layer of ingredients used in traditional lasagna while uniquely transforming it into a one pot meal!
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This One Pot Lasagna Recipe
- Super Convenient. Using one skillet to complete an entire meal means minimal cleanup. And this recipe is made in a fraction of the time it takes to make traditional oven-baked lasagna.
- Ultimate Comfort Food. We may have found an easy way to make lasagna but that doesn't mean we're compromising when it comes to taste! This no bake lasagna has creamy ricotta, noodles, and a chunky marinara sauce packed with ground sausage.
- A Crowd Pleaser. Almost everyone loves food that is saucy and cheesy so serve this dish for family gatherings, holidays, and potlucks.
One Pot Lasagna Ingredients
This skillet lasagna recipe utilizes traditional lasagna ingredients such as:
- Lasagna Noodles. Use regular lasagna noodles and break them up (but not too small). The noodles will simmer with the sauce and soften. Do not use "no boil lasagna" noodles for this recipe because the noodles will get mushy.
- Marinara Sauce. Make a homemade marinara sauce or use your favorite store-bought sauce.
- Spicy Sausage. Use ground sausage or hot Italian sausage without the casing.
- Shallot. The flavor profile is a bit richer than an onion and adds garlic-flavored notes as well. If necessary, you can use onions as an alternative.
- Fresh Herbs. I use tarragon and flat leaf parsley.
- Mozzarella Cheese. For a creamy and indulgent meal, use whole milk mozzarella cheese.
- Garlic. Use garlic paste or fresh minced garlic.
- Beef Broth. This enriches the flavor and helps the pasta cook.
- Red Wine. Although this is an optional ingredient, the "alcohol" will cook out but adds depth to the sauce that can't be duplicated. To emphasize, adding red wine to red sauces creates robust and rich flavors! Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir works best. If you don't have red wine on hand, beef broth works!
- Brown Sugar. This balances out the robust savory flavor with a touch of sweetness.
Cheese Mixture
This cheese mixture has a salty, slightly nutty taste and adds a creamy quality to the lasagna.
- Ricotta Cheese.
- Asiago Cheese.
- Romano Cheese.
- Salt + Pepper To Taste.
- Garlic Powder.
- Dried Parsley.
- Nutmeg.
The beauty of creating recipes with ingredients you have on hand is that most items are interchangeable or can be substituted. If you've never made a one skillet meal, try this recipe. You'll discover a lot of traditional meals that can be converted into one skillet meals.
How to Make One Pot Lasagna
The most important step to achieve the best results is to prep recipe ingredients. Furthermore, utilizing a pan wide and deep enough ensures less mess.
Brown Sausage
In a large cast iron, brown sausage, breaking it up into small pieces. Add in chopped shallot, herbs, and garlic paste and stir until well combined.
Add Sauce
Pour in marinara sauce and stir. Then pour in the wine and cook until reduced. After the alcohol cooks off (about 1-2 minutes), pour in 1 cup of beef broth and stir. Add in brown sugar and stir. Then add crumbled lasagna noodles and stir until the noodles are submerged in the meat sauce.
Simmer
Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes. With the remaining 1 cup of beef broth, pour in as needed to help the noodles cook in liquid. The liquid should cook down and the sauce should remain thick.
While the noodles cook, prepare the cheese mixture by stirring cheese, herbs and seasonings in a medium bowl. Set aside until further use.
Add Cheese Mixture
Once the noodles are cooked through, create craters into the pasta dish and add about one tablespoon of cheese mixture into the dish.
Top with mozzarella, cover for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted. Let the casserole sit for 10-15 minutes for best results and finally, enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for the Best One Pot Lasagna
- Drain any excess grease after cooking the sausage and before adding the other ingredients.
- One pot lasagna cooks best in a heavy-bottomed pan or skillet. This cast iron that I use works so well for this recipe. A large nonstick skillet or large stock pot works too.
- Make it ahead of time and store it for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
Substitutions & Variations
This recipe can work with many substitutions.
Don't have lasagna noodles? Any noodles should work. The larger the noodle, the better. This dish has hearty ingredients and a small noodle will not withstand these ingredients.
Do I have to use spicy sausage? Of course not. Any ground meat of your choice will work. For example, ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken or a pork blend would be tasty too. Sweet Italian sausage is another alternative.
Asiago and Romano are hard to find. What can I use instead? Double the mozzarella or any other white cheese. Additionally, pecorino or an Italian three-cheese blend works well too.
How can I make this a vegetarian one pot lasagna? Instead of ground pork, add mushrooms, zucchini, or a meat alternative.
How to Store Leftovers
After the one pot lasagna has completely cooled, store leftovers in an airtight container and place it in the fridge for up to 5 days. For longer storage, place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, microwave leftovers for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, place it in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.
FAQ
Does no boil lasagna work?
Use regular lasagna noodles when making one pot lasagna. There is enough liquid to cook them. No boil lasagna would become too soggy.
Is it better to cook lasagna covered or uncovered?
Cover one pot lasagna as it simmers so the steam can add moisture and it won't dry out.
Is lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?
That depends on your preference. Ricotta and cottage cheese both work in this one pot lasagna recipe. Cottage cheese has a lighter texture while ricotta is thicker, with a richer flavor. You can also use sour cream, goat cheese, mascarpone, and cream cheese as substitutes.
I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS ONE POT LASAGNA RECIPE!
If you try this recipe, I'd love to see it! Share it with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest.
More Pasta Recipes
If you like thirty minute meals as much as I do, check out these quick but tasty meals!
- Homemade 20 Minute BeefaRoni
- Shrimp Bacon + Burrata Pasta
- Three Cheese Shrimp Mac and Cheese
- Easy Burrata Pasta with Bacon
- Pasta al Salmone (Salmon Pasta)
- Shrimp Pasta with Butter Mushrooms
- Shrimp, Bacon & Burrata Pasta
Easy One Pot Skillet Sausage Lasagna
Equipment
- Large Cast Iron
Ingredients
- 8-10 oz Lasagna Noodles Broken Up
- 24 oz Marinara Sauce
- 1 lb Spicy Sausage
- 1 small Shallot
- 1 tablespoon Tarragon
- 1-2 tablespoon Flat Leaf Parsley
- 8 oz Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Paste Fresh Minced Garlic
- 2 cups Beef Broth
- ¾ cup Red Wine
- 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
Cheese Mixture
- 1.5 cup Ricotta Cheese
- ½ cup Asiago Cheese
- ½ cup Romano Cheese
- Salt + Pepper To Taste
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Dried Parsley
- Pinch Nutmeg
Instructions
- In a large cast iron brown sausage breaking up into small pieces.
- Add in chopped shallot, herbs, garlic paste and stir until well combined.
- Pour in marinara sauce and stir.
- Pour in wine and cook until reduced and alcohol cooks off (about 1-2 minutes).
- Pour in 1 cup of beef broth and stir.
- Add in brown sugar and stir.
- Add in crumbled lasagna noodles and stir until noodles are submerged into meat sauce.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- With remaining 1 cup of beef broth, pour in as needed to help noodles cook in liquid. The liquid should cook down and sauce should remain thick.
- While noodles cook, prepare cheese mixture by stirring cheese, herbs and seasonings in a medium sized bowl. Set aside until further use.
- Once noodles are cooked through, create craters into the pasta dish and add about one tablespoon of cheese mixture into the dish.
- Top with mozzarella, cover for 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Let casserole sit for 10-15 minutes for best results and enjoy!
Lauren Harper says
I loved that you gave substitutes because that’s exactly what I was thinking that I have no clue how to replace the ricotta that I don’t have on hand! Thank you!
Tara says
Yes! Omg! This came out sooo amazing! I added red pepper flakes and basil, but other wise followed the recipe to a t! (No wine) it is AMAZING! Thank you!