Quick and Easy One Pan Cheesy Skillet Lasagna

If you love the rich, comforting flavors of traditional Italian comfort food but don't have hours to spend in the kitchen, this Quick and Easy One Pan Cheesy Skillet Lasagna is the ultimate weeknight recipe. By ditching the complicated layers and boiling pots in favor of a single skillet, this clever recipe cooks tender farfalle pasta directly in a savory sausage and herb-infused tomato sauce. Top it off with creamy ricotta and a blanket of melted mozzarella for a satisfying, family-friendly dinner that goes from prep to table in just 35 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Why You'll Want to Make Quick and Easy One Pan Cheesy Skillet Lasagna

• Everything Cooks in One Pan: There is no need to boil the pasta separately or dirty multiple pots, keeping kitchen cleanup to an absolute minimum.

• Ready in Just 35 Minutes: It cuts out the tedious, time-consuming assembly of traditional lasagna, making it fast enough for a busy weeknight.

• Elevated From-Scratch Flavor: Blooming fresh garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes right in the hot sausage fat transforms plain canned tomatoes into a robust, deeply savory sauce base.

• Thicker, Glossier Sauce: Because the pasta cooks directly in the skillet, it releases its natural starches right into the liquid, creating a velvety sauce that clings to every noodle.

Ingredients - Here's What You'll Need

1. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet, with a lid, over medium heat. (I used my 3.5 qt. Le Creuset Braiser.) Then, add Italian sausage and cook for about five minutes, stirring frequently breaking the pieces up, until the sausage is no longer pink.

2. Then, stir in red pepper flakes, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, paprika, freshly ground pepper, and Kosher salt. Cook for about a minute, until the garlic is fragrant.

3. Sprinkle the farfalle pasta in a single layer on top of the sausage mixture.

4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes with basil and water, DO NOT stir. Place the lid on the pan and reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for five minutes.

5. After five minutes, stir the mixture. Replace lid and cook simmering for an additional 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.

6. Remove pan from the heat. Add half of the freshly grated parmesan and ricotta cheeses.

7. Stir the cheeses into the pasta until well incorporated with the tomato sauce.

8. Dollop the remaining ricotta on top and gently spread it slightly flat.

9. Then, grate the rest of the parmesan over the top.

10. Next, sprinkle freshly shredded mozzarella cheese over the top. Place the lid back on the pan for about five minutes to melt the cheeses.

11. Top with a few whole basil leaves and a sprinkle of minced basil. Serve with a garden salad and some breadsticks.

Wrap up your weeknight dinner rotation with this Quick and Easy One Pan Cheesy Skillet Lasagna for the ultimate shortcut to comforting Italian flavor. By skipping the messy boiling pots and tedious layers, you get all the rich sausage, savory herbs, and gooey, melted cheese of a traditional bake in a fraction of the time. It is a fast, flavor-packed, and family-approved one-pot meal that delivers maximum comfort with almost zero cleanup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Tips and Tricks

• Gauge Your Pan Size: A 12-inch skillet with deep sides is highly recommended for this recipe. The wide surface area ensures the farfalle pasta can submerge evenly in the liquid to cook properly without overcrowding. I used my 3.5 qt. Le Creuset Braiser.

• Scrape the Corners: When you do lift the lid to stir, pay special attention to the bottom edges and corners of the skillet. Starch from the pasta can settle and create hot spots where the noodles might stick and scorch.

• Use Block Mozzarella: Shred a block of whole-milk mozzarella yourself rather than using pre-shredded bags. Pre-shredded cheese is coated with anti-caking agents (like potato starch) that prevent it from achieving that ultra-fluid, gooey cheese pull.

• Broiler Finish for Depth: If you are using a stainless steel, cast iron, or oven-safe skillet, pop the pan under the broiler for 1 to 3 minutes to develop those deeply flavorful, bubbly, charred brown spots on the cheese.