Lazy Lasagna
This lazy lasagna cooks broken lasagna noodles directly in a meaty marinara sauce with pesto and beef broth, finished with dollops of ricotta and fresh basil. A one-pan dinner ready in 30 minutes.
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Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat beef, pork, or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp basil pesto
- 1 jar 24 oz marinara or vodka sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 6 heaping tbsp ricotta cheese
- Lasagna noodles broken into pieces
- Fresh basil for topping
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, brown the ground meat, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the pesto and cook for 1 minute.
- Pour in the marinara or vodka sauce and beef broth. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Break the lasagna noodles into rough pieces and add them directly to the sauce. Stir to submerge and cover. Cook for 15 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender and have absorbed most of the sauce.
- Drop heaping spoonfuls of ricotta over the top of the finished pasta. Do not stir in completely. Cover and let sit for 2 to 3 minutes so the ricotta warms through.
- Top with fresh basil and serve directly from the skillet.
Notes
Stir the noodles every few minutes during the covered cook to prevent them from sticking together or to the bottom of the pan.
The pesto adds a herby, slightly nutty depth that makes this taste more complex than a standard skillet lasagna. Do not skip it.
Drop the ricotta on at the very end rather than stirring it through so it stays in visible, creamy pockets rather than disappearing into the sauce.
Vodka sauce produces a richer, slightly more indulgent finished dish than marinara if you want to lean into the comfort food direction fully.
The pesto adds a herby, slightly nutty depth that makes this taste more complex than a standard skillet lasagna. Do not skip it.
Drop the ricotta on at the very end rather than stirring it through so it stays in visible, creamy pockets rather than disappearing into the sauce.
Vodka sauce produces a richer, slightly more indulgent finished dish than marinara if you want to lean into the comfort food direction fully.
