Lazy Lasagna Skillet with Ground Beef (No Raviolis)
Lazy Lasagna is a deconstructed version of the classic. It’s made with ground beef, store-bought sauce, mozzarella, ricotta cheese, and whatever pasta you have on hand. It’s a comforting, quick, and easy recipe that is high in protein pantry staple ingredients and no need for the oven.
Lasagna is a family favorite but the tedious layering that goes into it gets old, fast. This deconstructed version is a way to enjoy this classic dish in a fraction of the time.
Lasagna is a weekly stable in our house. Whether it’s this lazy version, turkey lasagna soup, cottage cheese lasagna or a buffalo chicken lasagna twist, it’s always a winner with the entire family.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- The whole family approves!
- Great recipe for busy weeknights.
- Even better the next day and 32 grams of protein per serving.
Ingredients and substitutes:
These are the ingredients for the lazy lasagna recipe. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions.
- Ground Beef: you can use ground chicken, ground turkey, or ground Italian sausage.
- Sauce: I like using Roa’s Tomato Bail for this recipe. Use your favorite spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce or homemade sauce.
- Rigatoni Noodles: The meat and sauce in the holes of the rigatoni means every bite is delicious. Use traditional lasagna noodles or any different pasta variety. I prefer thicker noodles.
- Ricotta Cheese: you can definitely substitute with cottage cheese.
Variations
- Add veggies like spinach, kale, shredded carrots and zucchini or riced cauliflower.
Dietary Modifications
- To make this dairy-free, swap out the cheese with your favorite dairy-free cheese.
- To make this gluten-free use your favorite gluten-free pasta noodles like Banza or brown rice noodles like Jovial Penne.
How to make this easy lasagna recipe:
Step 1: cook pasta and brown meat
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Measure out pasta raw and uncooked. While waiting on the water, brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat (image 1).
Step 2: season the beef
When the meat is almost completely browned, stir in chopped onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and dried basil (image 2).
Cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes (image 3).
Step 3: add broth and marinara
Add the beef broth to the meat mixture (image 4).
Add the pasta sauce to the mixture and stir to combine (image 5).
Allow this to simmer while you boil the noodles according to the package instructions, approx. 13 minutes (image 6).
Step 4: add noodles to the pan
Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add to the pan with the meat sauce (image 7).
Let simmer for 2-3 minutes while mixing the noodles in well (image 8).
Step 5: add cheese and combine
Add the mozzarella to the noodles and sauce mixture (image 9). Stir to combine and fully melt (image 10). While the lasagna is still hot, add the ricotta to the mixture (image 11). Slightly mix to spread the ricotta throughout the dish (image 12). Top with fresh basil and additional ricotta and enjoy.
Expert Tip!
Pick a sauce that works best for your macros. Sauces can be loaded with sugar which up the carbs and can also be loaded with oils bringing the fat high. Pick what works for you!
Recipe FAQs
Serve your lasagna with a side of garlic bread and a green salad. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and fresh basil on top for extra flavor.
Microwave is my preferred method and doesn’t result in overcooked noodles. You can also add to a pot on the stove and reheat over medium heat stirring often until fully heated through.
Cook your noodles al dente. Divide into individual serving containers and top with ricotta. Freeze and enjoy within 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy straight from the freezer just microwave for 3-4 minutes and enjoy!
Store leftover lasagna in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Check out our other easy dinner recipes!
If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!
Lazy Lasagna
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Ingredients
- 1 lbs. lean ground beef 96/4
- 1 small white onion, chopped 100g
- 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. dried basil
- 4 cups tomato basil pasta sauce 32oz. (I like Rao's)
- 1/2 cup beef broth low sodium
- 8 oz. rigatoni noodles measured uncooked
- 4 oz. low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese shredded
- 4 oz. part skim ricotta cheese
Toppings
- fresh chopped basil
- parmesan cheese
- additional ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil for cooking the pasta according to the directions on the box.
- While waiting on the water to boil, heat a large pan over medium heat and brown the ground beef while breaking into bite size pieces.
- When the meat is almost completely cooked through, stir in the chopped onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and dried basil. Cook until fragrant and the onions are beginning to soften, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and beef broth and set to simmer while you cook the pasta noodles. Add the uncooked pasta to boiling water and boil according to the box instructions (about 13 minutes).
- Once pasta is cooked, drain and add to the pan with the meat sauce. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes while mixing the noodles in well to fully combine.
- Add the mozzarella and stir together until fully melted. While the lasagna is still hot add the ricotta cheese on top and slightly mix throughout the dish.
- Top with freshly chopped basil, parmesan cheese and enjoy.
Notes
- All nutrition facts are an estimate. Weigh your total and divide by the number of servings for the most accurate grams per serving size.
- To make this gluten-free use your favorite gluten-free pasta noodles.
- Add veggies like chopped spinach, kale, shredded carrots, zucchini or riced cauliflower to beef up the volume.
- To make this dairy-free, swap out the cheese with your favorite dairy-free cheese or omit it completely.
- Cottage cheese is a great substitute for ricotta cheese.
I made this last night and not only was it so good, it was SO EASY and quick to make!! I sent the recipe to friends afterwards!
So happy you loved it, thank you for sharing with friends!! I appreciate that!
We loved this recipe, especially if you don’t want to make a full lasagna. The flavor and ease of this recipe is worth it. One of our new favorites!
Thank you Jenna!
This was delicious and easy and everyone in my family loved it. My teenagers actually fought over the leftovers the next day.
HAHA! I love that so much! Thank you
Every time one of my friends has a baby, I make this recipe and deliver it to their home with a fresh loaf of sourdough! Every single time, they praise it and want the recipe. We also made this in bulk for a family vacation of 40+ people ages 3-70 years old and it is still talked about to this day! I love substituting cottage cheese for a bit more protein! It’s the best!
This is amazing!!!! Thank you so much, I am so happy to hear this has been such a wonderful recipe for you and so many others! <3
Delicious and perfect for my macro goals! I used lean ground turkey and chicken broth instead of beef and beef brother (my husband doesn’t eat beef), and subbed blended 2% fat cottage cheese for the ricotta. I didn’t have dried basil, but the flavor was still delicious. My recommendation if using ground turkey is to use the 93/7 turkey rather than 99% lean; I used the 99% lean because it’s what I had on hand, but I think the 93/7 would be a bit of a better flavor and texture.
Not only is this recipe easy, it is so delicious!! My whole family devoured it and my kids can be picky! Definitely will be part of our rotation! Thank you, Danielle!
So easy and so delicious! Definitely going to be a staple in my household
Woohoo!!! Thank you!
I’ve made many of your recipes (truly love them all), but tonight was the first time I have made this. My husband and I loved it and even my son, who is quite picky, enjoyed it. Absolutely delicious and easy for a weeknight meal.
Aww thank you so so much!! I’m so glad you all enjoyed it!
Easy and delicious!
So quick and easy but you’d never know it by all the flavor! So good! A regular in the meal prep rotation in our house!
Woohoo!!! Glad you love it!!
Another winning recipe from Danielle! Easy and so flavorful. I used ground Turkey because that was what I had and added some spinach and grated zucchini to the sauce (because I’m always looking for ways to add veggies to meal 😂) family inhaled it and happily took the leftovers for lunch.
Yay!! I bet it was so good with the added veggies!! Thank you so much for trying it <3
So delicious and easy! The whole family loved it!
Another 5 star recipe! Super easy and quick for a busy weeknight meal.
Fast and easy Sunday dinner. This was SO good.
Made this recently. It was soooo good! Even better the next day. Definitely will be making it again.