If you ask me, one pot lasagna is a total game changer.
This comfort food favorite takes all the flavors you love about traditional lasagna and puts them in a single pot. Tender pasta layers soak up rich marinara sauce while melty cheese creates those gooey bites we all crave.
It’s made with ground beef seasoned with Italian herbs and cooked right in the same pot. Fresh ricotta and mozzarella cheese help the whole thing come together into something satisfying.
It’s a family-friendly dish that cuts down on cleanup time, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Why You’ll Love This One Pot Lasagna
- One pot convenience – No need to dirty multiple dishes or layer ingredients in a baking dish – everything cooks together in one pot, making cleanup a breeze.
- Quick weeknight dinner – Ready in under an hour, this recipe gives you all the comfort of traditional lasagna without the lengthy prep and baking time.
- Simple preparation – Just brown the sausage, add your ingredients, and let everything simmer together – no boiling noodles separately or complicated layering required.
- All the classic lasagna flavors – With Italian sausage, three types of cheese, and marinara sauce, you get that familiar lasagna taste in a much easier format.
- Family-friendly comfort food – This hearty, cheesy pasta dish is guaranteed to please everyone at the dinner table, from kids to adults.
What Kind of Lasagna Noodles Should I Use?
Regular lasagna noodles work perfectly for this one-pot recipe, and you don’t need to pre-cook them since they’ll soften right in the pot with all the sauce and liquid. You can use either the traditional flat lasagna noodles or the wavy-edged ones – both will break into pieces just fine and cook evenly. If you only have no-boil lasagna noodles on hand, those will work too, though they might cook a bit faster so keep an eye on them. Just make sure to break your noodles into roughly 2-3 inch pieces before adding them to the pot, which helps them cook more evenly and makes serving much easier.
Options for Substitutions
This one-pot wonder is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps – here’s what you can change up:
- Ground Italian sausage: Ground beef, turkey, or chicken work great here. If using plain ground meat, add an extra teaspoon of Italian seasoning to make up for the lost flavor from the sausage.
- Lasagna noodles: Regular lasagna noodles are best for this recipe since they hold up well during the one-pot cooking process. Avoid substituting with other pasta shapes as they won’t give you that authentic lasagna experience.
- Ricotta cheese: Cottage cheese makes a good substitute – just drain it well first. You can also use cream cheese mixed with a splash of milk for creaminess.
- Marinara sauce: Any pasta sauce works here – try meat sauce, arrabbiata, or even a simple tomato sauce. Just make sure it’s about the same consistency as marinara.
- Mozzarella and Parmesan: Feel free to mix up the cheese blend! Try adding some provolone, Romano, or even a Mexican cheese blend for a fun twist.
- Italian seasoning: Make your own blend with dried basil, oregano, and thyme, or use herbs de Provence for a slightly different flavor profile.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making one pot lasagna is not adding enough liquid, which can leave your noodles undercooked and tough – make sure to add the full cup of water and keep an eye on the liquid level, adding more if needed during cooking.
Another common error is cranking up the heat too high, which causes the bottom to burn while the noodles stay hard, so keep it at a gentle simmer and stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Don’t add all the cheese at once or it will clump up and become stringy – instead, stir in the ricotta first, then add the mozzarella and parmesan during the last few minutes of cooking.
Finally, resist the urge to skip the resting time after cooking, as letting it sit for 5-10 minutes allows the sauce to thicken and makes serving much neater.
What to Serve With One Pot Lasagna?
This one pot lasagna is pretty hearty on its own, but a crisp Caesar salad or simple mixed greens with Italian dressing makes a perfect side to cut through all that cheesy goodness. Garlic bread is always a winner too – you can never have too much bread for scooping up the saucy bits! If you want to add some veggies to the mix, roasted broccoli or zucchini work really well since they won’t compete with the rich flavors of the lasagna. A glass of red wine doesn’t hurt either if you’re looking to make it feel like a special dinner.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate: This one pot lasagna keeps really well in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. I actually think it tastes even better the next day because all those flavors have time to meld together. It’s perfect for meal prep or having leftovers ready to go.
Freeze: You can freeze portions of this lasagna for up to 3 months in freezer-safe containers. I like to divide it into individual serving sizes so I can just grab one when I need a quick dinner. Let it cool completely before freezing to maintain the best texture.
Reheat: Warm up your leftover lasagna in the microwave with a splash of water to keep it from drying out, or heat it gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat. If it’s frozen, let it thaw in the fridge overnight first, then reheat until it’s heated through and bubbly.
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 30-40 minutes |
| Total Time | 40-55 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Medium |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 2300-2500
- Protein: 105-120 g
- Fat: 125-135 g
- Carbohydrates: 170-190 g
Ingredients
For the skillet lasagna:
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
- 1 lb italian sausage, ground
- 1-2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
For the cheese topping:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- Fresh basil, optional
Step 1: Brown the Sausage and Sauté Garlic
- 1 lb Italian sausage, ground
- 1-2 tsp minced garlic
Heat a large, 2-inch deep skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is fully browned and cooked through.
Once the sausage is cooked, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
Step 2: Make Sauce and Add Noodles
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
- browned sausage and sautéed garlic from Step 1
Pour the marinara sauce, water, and Italian seasoning into the skillet with the cooked sausage and garlic.
Stir well to combine.
Add the broken lasagna noodles to the sauce mixture, stirring to ensure the noodles are mostly submerged in the sauce.
Step 3: Simmer until Noodles are Tender
Reduce the heat to medium-low, bringing the mixture to a high simmer.
Cover the skillet and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until the lasagna noodles are tender and cooked through.
I recommend tasting a noodle near the end of the cooking time for perfect doneness.
Step 4: Add Cheeses and Finish Cooking
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
Uncover the skillet and drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese evenly over the noodles.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses on top.
Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, uncovered, until the cheeses are melted and gooey.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
- fresh basil, optional
Remove the skillet from the heat.
Top the lasagna skillet with fresh basil if desired.
Serve hot and enjoy!
For a brighter, fresher flavor, I like to add a few torn basil leaves right before serving.
Comforting One Pot Lasagna
Ingredients
For the skillet lasagna:
- 8 lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces
- 1 lb Italian sausage, ground
- 1-2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
For the cheese topping:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- fresh basil, optional
Instructions
- Heat a large, 2-inch deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it apart with a spatula, until it is fully browned and cooked through. Once the sausage is cooked, stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Pour the marinara sauce, water, and Italian seasoning into the skillet with the cooked sausage and garlic. Stir well to combine. Add the broken lasagna noodles to the sauce mixture, stirring to ensure the noodles are mostly submerged in the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, bringing the mixture to a high simmer. Cover the skillet and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking, until the lasagna noodles are tender and cooked through. I recommend tasting a noodle near the end of the cooking time for perfect doneness.
- Uncover the skillet and drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses on top. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes, uncovered, until the cheeses are melted and gooey.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Top the lasagna skillet with fresh basil if desired. Serve hot and enjoy! For a brighter, fresher flavor, I like to add a few torn basil leaves right before serving.
