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Skillet Meaty Lasagna

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on April 4, 2013

Yield

Serves 4

Skillet Meaty Lasagna

Ingredients

3 (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium onion, mincedSalt 3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1 pound meatloaf mix 10 curly-edged lasagna noodles (about 8 ½ ounces), broken into 2-inch lengths2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)½ ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (¼ cup)Ground black pepper ¾ cup ricotta cheese (see note)3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Before You Begin

Do not substitute no-boil lasagna noodles for the traditional, curly-edged lasagna noodles here. Meatloaf mix is a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal, sold pre-packaged in many supermarkets. If it’s unavailable, use 1/2 pound each ground pork and 85 percent ground beef. We recommend using either whole milk or part-skim ricotta here, but do not use fat-free ricotta, which has a very dry texture and bland flavor.

Instructions

  1. Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.
  2. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking apart the meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Scatter the pasta over the meat, then pour the processed tomatoes over the pasta. Cover, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
  4. Off the heat, stir in half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dot heaping tablespoons of the ricotta over the noodles, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and let stand off the heat until the cheese melts, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.
Skillet Meaty Lasagna

Skillet Meaty Lasagna

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
Salt
3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound meatloaf mix
10 curly-edged lasagna noodles (about 8 ½ ounces), broken into 2-inch lengths
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
½ ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (¼ cup)
Ground black pepper
¾ cup ricotta cheese (see note)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Ingredients

3 (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
Salt
3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound meatloaf mix
10 curly-edged lasagna noodles (about 8 ½ ounces), broken into 2-inch lengths
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
½ ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (¼ cup)
Ground black pepper
¾ cup ricotta cheese (see note)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Ingredients

3 (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, minced
Salt
3 medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 pound meatloaf mix
10 curly-edged lasagna noodles (about 8 ½ ounces), broken into 2-inch lengths
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
½ ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (¼ cup)
Ground black pepper
¾ cup ricotta cheese (see note)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Why This Recipe Works

For our quick skillet lasagna recipe, we limited the time that it took to simmer the sauce to the time that it took to cook the pasta. Onions and garlic gave the sauce depth. We also used meatloaf mix (a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal sold in one package at most supermarkets) for our skillet lasagna recipe. Canned whole peeled tomatoes pulsed briefly in a food processor gave the sauce a slightly chunky and substantial texture—and there was just enough liquid to cook the pasta.

Before You Begin

Do not substitute no-boil lasagna noodles for the traditional, curly-edged lasagna noodles here. Meatloaf mix is a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal, sold pre-packaged in many supermarkets. If it’s unavailable, use 1/2 pound each ground pork and 85 percent ground beef. We recommend using either whole milk or part-skim ricotta here, but do not use fat-free ricotta, which has a very dry texture and bland flavor.

Instructions

  1. Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.
  2. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking apart the meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.
  3. Scatter the pasta over the meat, then pour the processed tomatoes over the pasta. Cover, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.
  4. Off the heat, stir in half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dot heaping tablespoons of the ricotta over the noodles, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and let stand off the heat until the cheese melts, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.

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