Homemade Skillet Lasagna: Better Than Hamburger Helper

Skillet Lasagna is an excellent alternative to Hamburger Helper. Are you ever looking for an inexpensive meal toMy love for quick, affordable weeknight meals started in childhood with boxed Hamburger Helper, but as an adult, I craved something with the same convenience but more wholesome ingredients. This one-pan skillet lasagna was born from that desire. It delivers all the comforting flavors of traditional lasagna without the lengthy baking time or the need for multiple dirty dishes. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this hearty, budget-friendly meal combines broken lasagna noodles, seasoned ground meat, and dollops of creamy ricotta for a satisfying dinner that comes together in just 35 minutes. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and you’ll have a dinner that your whole family will love.

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Budget Friendly Skillet Lasagna

The genius of this recipe is that it creates the rich, layered flavors of oven-baked lasagna in a fraction of the time. By cooking the pasta directly in the sauce, the noodles absorb the savory flavors while releasing starch that naturally thickens the sauce. The ricotta cheese melts slightly when added at the end, creating pockets of creamy goodness throughout the dish without the fuss of actual layering. It’s economical, quick, and uses simple ingredients most people already have in their pantry.

Ingredients

• Ground Italian sausage or beef – Provides rich protein and foundational flavor for the dish
• Onion – Creates aromatic base notes that enhance the sauce
• Garlic – Adds essential Italian flavor depth
• Tomato sauce – Forms the base of the sauce with smooth consistency
• Canned chopped tomatoes – Adds texture and fresh tomato flavor
• Water – Helps cook the pasta directly in the sauce
• Italian seasoning – Provides classic herbal notes of oregano, basil, and thyme
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors in the dish
• Ground black pepper – Adds subtle heat and depth
• Lasagna noodles – Create the pasta foundation without needing to boil separately
• Ricotta cheese – Provides the creamy element found in traditional lasagna

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

Choose your favorite ground meat or even a mixture. Ground beef is good, but Italian sausage adds more flavor to this dish. But you don’t have to use red meat. Ground turkey or even soy crumbles also work well in this recipe. 

Although you shouldn’t miss this chance to use up those few sheets of lasagna noodles left in the box, any short pasta you have, like bow ties or penne, will work in this recipe. If you only have no-bake lasagna noodles, you will need to add a little more water to the pan, about a quarter cup. 

I use fresh onions and garlic. If you happen to have some bell peppers in your fridge, you could toss in one of those if you like. This recipe is very flexible.

I use ricotta cheese to add some flavor. If you like, you could swap this out for cottage cheese as either one will work. I personally prefer the ricotta because I like the taste and texture more when the cheese is heated.

How to Make Skillet Lasagna

Here are the simple steps for this easy skillet lasagna recipe:

1. Pour a little oil into a large skillet and warm over medium-high heat.
2. Brown the ground meat in the pan. Pour out any excess grease, leaving about a tablespoon behind in the pan.
3. Add the garlic and onions to the pan and cook until the onions become translucent. 

4. Stir in the water, tomato sauce, chopped tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

5. Break the lasagna sheets into two-inch squares and add to the pan. Stir well.

6. Cook uncovered until the pasta is al dente. The timing can vary depending on the type of pasta you are using. You may need to add more water if the pan is getting a little dry. 
7. Add spoonfuls of ricotta cheese to the top of the skillet lasagna and cover to allow the cheese to melt slightly.
8. Serve immediately. You can also top it with grated Parmesan or Romano if desired.

Recipe Variations 

Lasaga is like the pizza of pasta dishes. People love it, there are about a million different ways to make it, and everyone has their own favorite. Here are three ways to modify this lasagna skillet if you want to try something a little different. 

• Make easy skillet lasagna with cottage cheese, instead. Save calories and fat by replacing the ricotta cheese with cottage cheese. 
• Slip a few vegetables into the pan. Roasted eggplant, sauteed broccoli rabe, and cooked peppers are great additions. 
• Garnish with basil. Fresh, chopped basil adds a wonderful flavor and aroma to this dish. 

What To Serve With Skillet Lasagna 

This may be a favorite recipe for many busy cooks because it needs only one pan, but that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to dirty a few more to make some great side dishes:

• Garlic bread. This recipe for cheesy garlic toast from the Pasta House Company is perfect. 
• Spinach salad. Dress with a simple balsamic vinegarette, or get fancy with a warm bacon dressing. 
• Sauteed broccoli rabe. The vegetable’s slight bitterness pairs so well with the richness of the lasagna, so if you are not adding it to the main course, why not serve it as a side dish? 

Storage and Reheating

• Reheating: For best results, reheat the homemade hamburger helper lasagna in a skillet with a splash of tomato sauce or water to prevent sticking. Cover and warm over medium-low heat until heated through. Alternatively, microwave with a damp paper towel covering the dish to maintain moisture.
• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in portion-sized containers for up to 2 months.

Inexpensive meals do not have to be flavorless they can be both filling and delicious. Cabbage roll casserole is made with fresh cabbage, ground meat, and rice.

More Italian Recipes

• Baked Ziti with Ground Beef
• Chicken Carbonara
• Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Instant Pot Italian Sausage Pasta
• Italian Rice Balls
• Olive Garden 5 Cheese Lasagna
• Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
• Parmesan Risotto
• Red Clam Sauce
• Stuffed Manicotti with Meat

Favorite Budget-Friendly Meals

• Porcupine Meatballs
• Sausage Mac and Cheese Casserole
• Taco Spaghetti

Check out my easy dinner recipes and the best Italian recipes here on CopyKat!