How to Make One Pot Lasagna
Easy One Pot Lasagna (No Layering Required!)
This Easy One-Pot Lasagna has everything you love about traditional lasagna without the extra dishes, layering, or long baking time. Ground beef and Italian sausage simmer with broken lasagna noodles in a rich tomato sauce, then get topped with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. It's a hearty, comforting family dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
For the Cheese Topping
Instructions
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How to Make Easy One Pot Lasagna
All the flavors of classic lasagna come together in one skillet. Instead of boiling noodles separately and layering everything in a baking dish, the pasta cooks right in the rich meat sauce before being topped with three cheeses.
Brown the Meat → Build the Sauce → Simmer the Noodles → Add the Cheese → Cover Until Melted
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Brown the beef and sausage
Heat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking the meat into small pieces, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if necessary.
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Add the onion and garlic
Add the diced onion to the meat and cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant. Add a little olive oil if the skillet seems dry.
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Build the tomato sauce
Pour in the marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, and 2 cups of beef broth. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes, if using.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
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Add the lasagna noodles
Break the uncooked lasagna noodles into roughly 2-inch pieces. Add them gradually to the skillet, stirring gently to distribute them throughout the sauce.
Make sure most of the noodles are submerged in the liquid.
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Simmer until tender
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for approximately 15–20 minutes, stirring gently every 3–4 minutes to prevent the noodles from sticking together or to the bottom of the skillet.
If the sauce becomes too thick before the noodles are tender, add additional broth, ¼ cup at a time.
The noodles should be tender, and the sauce should be thick and hearty.
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Add the ricotta
Remove the lid and stir the lasagna gently. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta cheese evenly over the top of the pasta.
Leave the ricotta in small pockets rather than stirring it completely into the sauce.
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Add mozzarella and Parmesan
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly over the skillet.
Cover and cook over low heat for another 2–3 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted.
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Rest and serve
Remove the skillet from the heat and let the lasagna rest uncovered for approximately 5 minutes. This allows the sauce to thicken slightly.
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve warm.
Note
Use a deep skillet. A large, deep 12-inch skillet with a lid or Dutch oven works best. You'll need enough room for the meat, sauce, and pasta.
Use regular lasagna noodles. This recipe is designed for traditional dried lasagna noodles, not oven-ready noodles. Break them into smaller pieces before adding them to the skillet.
Don't skip stirring. Stir the noodles every few minutes while they simmer to prevent sticking and help them cook evenly.
Adjust the liquid as needed. Different pasta brands absorb liquid differently. If the sauce thickens before the noodles finish cooking, add ¼ cup of broth at a time.
For extra cheesy lasagna: Stir ½ cup of mozzarella into the cooked pasta before adding the cheese topping.
Make it a little lighter: Substitute ground turkey for the beef or use part-skim ricotta.
Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days. Reheat with a splash of water, broth, or marinara sauce.
Freezing: Freeze cooled portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The noodles may soften slightly.
Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles and check that your sausage, sauce, and broth are gluten-free. Cooking time and liquid needs may vary.
Love the flavors of homemade lasagna? Try our Cozy Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup for another comforting, family-friendly dinner that's easy to prepare.
Food Safety Tip: When cooking ground beef and Italian sausage, make sure the meat reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. For more information, visit the USDA Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.
