Skillet Lasagna

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: Lasagna isn’t usually a dish you can throw together at the last minute. Even with no-boil noodles, it takes a good amount of time to get the components just right. Our goal was to transform traditional baked lasagna into a stovetop skillet dish without losing any of its flavor or appeal. We built a hearty, flavorful meat sauce with onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, and meatloaf next (a more flavorful alternative to plain ground beef). A large can of diced tomatoes along with tomato sauce provided juicy tomato flavor and a nicely chunk texture. We scattered regular curly-edged lasagna noodles, broken into pieces of the top of the sauce (smaller pieces are easier to eat and serve). We then diluted the sauce with a little water so that the noodles would cook through. After a 20-minuted simmer with the lid on, the pasta was tender, the sauce was properly thickened, and it was time for the cheese. Stirring Parmesan into the dish worked well, but we discovered that the sweet creaminess of ricotta was lost unless we placed it in heaping tablespoonfuls on top of the lasagna. Replacing the lid and letting the cheese warm through for several minutes was the final step for this super-easy one-pan dish. Meatloaf mix is a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal, sold prepackaged in many supermarkets. If unavailable, use ground beef. A skillet with a tight-fitting lid works best for this recipe. To make the dish a bit richer, sprinkle lasagna with additional shredded cheese, such as mozzarella or provolone, along with the Parmesan. Serve. 2022-03-28: broke up the lasagna by hand. Not uniform at all, but easier than using a knife and dried pasta flying all around. Add 2 more noodle strips. Keep the ricotta dollops large but spread out because not everyone liked that kind of cheese. 2022-08-26: used crème fraiche instead of ricotta to add more creaminess. Used the entire box of lasagna noodles and needed to add more liquid (2 cups) and cook for a longer time (30-35 mins). 80/20 beef = too fatty.

Good

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet