Skillet Lasagna
If you’re on Pinterest of Facebook and could use one of the buttons above, I’d really appreciate it!
I’m gonna be short on today’s post because I’m working on a massive pyrex post that I hope to have up tomorrow. Yesterday I had a lot of fun playing with pyrex for a photoshoot we had at my house and I had such great feedback on Facebook and Instagram (follow me and look at all of my photos by clicking here) that I feel the need to do a full post of how I organize and display my Pyrex, as well as more information on some of the patterns I have.
BUT I had to stop that for a bit so I can bring you this recipe, because we seem to have the same taste in food and I LOVE SKILLET LASAGNA – so you need this recipe. In fact, you need to cook it for supper soon. I’m jes sayin’…
Ooh, speaking of that phrase “I’m jes sayin’”, have you noticed how often it’s used in such ugly ways nowadays? Folks say something awful or mean and then follow with that like “Oh you can’t be mad at me, I was just saying…”. No honeybunchesofoats, I won’t have to be mad at you but if you like to go around sticking barbs in people for sport, I sure can delete you from my friend’s list. 
See quote at bottom of today’s post for a little more insight into this and don’t feel guilty for wanting people of kindness and grace in your circle of friends.
Meanwhile, back in the kitchen…
I absolutely love Lasagna, but it has a few strikes against it. Even though my slow cooker lasagna is a dear favorite, it makes enough to feed an army and requires a little bit of planning ahead – and if you’re just not tuning in, there are two things that I’m not: organized or a planner.
This skillet lasagna is a new favorite of mine for several reasons. First of all, let me start by telling you that no matter what you think, it does not taste just like spaghetti. It tastes like skillet lasagna, and you need to make it soon because it is:
- Easily made in about 20 minutes
- Economical (stretches a 1/2 pound ground beef to feed 4 people)
- All the flavors I love in Lasagna but in a perfect serving size for a smaller family.
- Easily doubled (see recipe for notes on how I do that)
I love this so much that when my birthday rolled around a week or so ago, rather than going out to eat, I opted to stay home and make this dish instead. It’s just that good. Seriously.
I’m hungry so let’s get started:
You’ll need: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, ground beef, onions, mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, and about 1/2 a package of egg noodles.
The beauty of this recipe is that it feeds about four people with only 1/2 pound of ground beef, which is a real budget saver.
I say “about” because putting servings on a recipe is very relative. The first thought that comes to mind every single time anyone asks me how many a recipe feeds is “How hungry are you?“. If you have a casserole that some “say” feeds 6, but four are little kids, it may feed 8-10. Likewise, if you have a half starved lumberjack in the family, it may feed two .
In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown ground beef and onions until it’s no longer pink in the center, breaking it up into smaller pieces as you do so. Drain off any grease once it’s cooked.
Add in your water, tomato paste, tomatoes (with juice), Italian seasoning (Pronounced EYE-talian by my grandmother), and garlic powder.
Stir that up good and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about ten minutes – or until you get tired of simmering.
Either or works for me – I promise I’m not grading on how well you follow instructions.
Cook ‘em noodles!
Your package tells you how in case you need to know
Stir in your cooked egg noodles.
Interesting fact: You know when I do TV I’m not supposed to say “your” egg noodles or “your tomatoes”. I’m supposed to say “the” egg noodles and “The tomatoes”. Which is completely and utterly ridiculous (not that I have an opinion on it or anything) because at this point, if they don’t belong to you, you really shouldn’t be cooking with them. It is not often that I break into people’s homes and cook with ingredients I find in their pantries but I supposed tv folks are supposed to use general terminology in order to avoid make burglar chefs feel guilt or shame about their unfortunate but tasty habit.
The world is a crazy place and I’m just a swinging over it on my trapeze…
Stir your two cheeses together.
Drop that by spoonfuls onto the top of your skillet.
You don’t have to put it in the center like I did, you can just go crazy putting it all over if you want – or even make a smiley face out of cheese blops on the top!
Get creative but if you do anything really fun be sure and send me a picture
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 16 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon dry Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces Egg Noodles (half of a 16 oz pkg), cooked and drained
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup Mozzarella
Instructions
- In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium high heat until no longer pink in center. Drain off any grease.
- Add tomatoes in juice, tomato paste, water, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder to skillet. Stir well and lower heat to simmer for ten minutes, while you cook the egg noodles separately.
- Stir cooked egg noodles into the sauce.
- In separate bowl, stir together cottage cheese and mozzarella. Drop by spoonfuls over top of lasagna skillet. Cover and let cook about five minutes, until the cheese melts.
Print This Recipe
“The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.”
~Colin Powell
Related posts:
Posted by Christy Jordan
on Feb 21 2013. Filed under Main Course, Quick&Easy.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
Wow this sounds so easy and good thanks for sharing!
This looks great! Think I’ll try it this weekend. Oh… my grandmother says EYE- talian too…
I think this is a great idea-especially if you have “PICKY EATERS” in your house.
This sounds like a keeper. I will definitely be trying it. My grandmother, who was born in 1885, pronounced recipe – ra-seep’. She had many good ra-seeps’, and when we use one we still pronounce it that way. She was in her 60s before she had the benefit of TV to let know how the rest of the world pronounced it.
I love it! I may try to start saying it that way, too! She sounds like a treasure!
Margy, the old word for “recipe” was “receipt,” pronounced “ra-SEET.” It sounds like your grandmother used a version of that word. She would have been the right age.
This recipe/receipt sounds great! Thanks for a speedy meal, Christy. I was just looking for something quick and good to make before bad weather blows otnight. I like to have something on hand when weather is rough. If we lose electricity, I have something good and homemade to reheat, and I’d a whole lot rather eat homemade than open a can any day.
Is there any reason the cheeses can’t be just mixed in?
There is no reason why you can’t do whatever you want to do with this recipe, have fun with it and make it your own!
I think I’d mix the cottage cheese with the noodles/tomatoes (ricotta would be good, too) and reserve the mozzarella for on top. Great looking recipe, I’m gonna try it…
I hope you enjoy it Jason!
Wow, am making this tonight, sounds so yummy! I can’t wait! Thank again for sharing and love your little messages! I so enjoy your site!
Oh thank you so much Joyce!! You are the best! I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
Im also wondering if cheeses can be stirred in. Not crazy about cottage cheese.
Go for it
Also, you could just double mozzarella and skip cottage cheese altogether. I’m a big fan of not forcing things on people that they don’t like. I only eat things I don’t like when I’m contractually obligated to do so 
I don’t like cottage cheese also. Couldn’t you just substitute ricotta cheese? That is what I put in my regular lasagna recipe.
This sounds SO YUMMY! I think we will try this one soon!! We enjoy all of your recipes.. Happy Thursday, Christy!!!
Happy Thursday to you, too, Gayle!!!!!! and Thankyou!
I can’t wait for the Pyrex post!!!!
This recipe looks delicious too.
I really appreciate you attitude and view on life.
Sounds good! Can’t wait to see more of your Pyrex!
This looks devine! Cant wait to try it ….
Sounds like one of my dishes I made when my son’s drumline from HS just happened to drop by and ask What’s for supper! I fed 10 at a time from a pound of ground beef and they never knew the difference. Like the cheeses like that.
This sounds perfect for my son and husband and easy for me all the better I’m gonna make it next week ! Thanks for the recipe
It’s so much easier and cheaper to make it like this instead of buying hamburger helper.
My husband is 1/4 Sicilian. He liked to have wet his pants when I said Eyetalian the first time. LOL
Do you think this would be good with a can of mushrooms?
Definitely, Jill!! But then, I LOVE mushrooms…
Me too
Christy, this looks delicious and fast. My two most attributes in weeknight dinners. I agree with you 100% about the just sayin’ remark. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people use that saying as an excuse to throw out a mean/petty/ugly/disrespectful comment toward someone else. My opinion on the matter is, “If you don’t feel good about what you’re about to say without adding “just sayin’ on the ending, you don’t need to be sayin’ it.” Just sayin’…
Your recipe is quite close to a casserole I make that I named Poor Man’s Lasagna. Our versions are so much easier to make that the usual one and just as tasty!! I hope folks will take you up on your suggestion to be creative with the cheese mixture and share pictures. I’d LOVE to see just what they come up with. Will be having this tomorrow nite. Looking forward to it! Thanks Christy!!
Christy hon, I just love your sense of humor. I started giggling at the “your egg noodles” and like to died by the time you called them “burglar chefs.” You gotta put that one in a future cookbook.
This recipe looks so delicious. I can’t wait to try it. I will probably substitute ricotta for the cottage cheese, since that’s how I make my lasagna. I might even try freezing some of it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
I just love this!!! Can I add some parmesan cheese to the other cheeses and maybe fresh garlic instead of powder??? THANKS!!
I have my grandmothers recipe to this only a few minor differences than yours. She used to cook it at the school house when she was a cook. (way back before these silly food requirements kids have now)
This sounds good mmmmmm.
Loved your remark about the noodles. My husband always corrects me when I say I am going to eat my breakfast or I am going to take my shower. He says Take a shower or eat breakfast. I always say nobody else is eating my breakfast or nobody is in the shower with me so its MY shower! Glad someone else feels like I do about the MY thing lol
I love your recipes. I am married to a Southern Boy and I am a California girl. Mom in law taught me alot about southern cookng. But now hubby is diabetic and finding those southern dishes I can change for him to eat is hard. He loves the pie you posted last week. Infact I have already made it twice for him
Sounds perfect for dinner tonight!
Well I’ll be darned….never thought to use egg noodles in place of pasta! It’s one of those times ya think “why didn’t I think of that?” Well, I have some so I’m off to make dinner! I had no idea what I was going to make. I was going to make regular lasanga tonight but didn’t feel like it after cleaning the basement.
Mmmm…. I love me some skillet lasagna! My recipe has water added to the sauce. Then I just add the dry noodles in and cook until done (about 10 minutes), stir and add the cheeses. It also has some chopped zucchini in it–good way to get extra veggies in the kids!
I thought about trying this. How much water would I need to add.
Speaking of “receipts” and someone was a bit ago, I have a wonderful spiral bound (First Edition that belonged to my mother in law, who would be 103 in May) named “Charleston Receipts”. It’s a lovely go-to for Low Country cuisine. This “receipt” is a wonderful idea. I’ve done similiar with left-over spaghetti sauce but didn’t have the forethought to add the cheeses. Yum! Oh, and you were simply marvelous on Paula’s show. Boy Howdy! She sure can “gild a lily” can’t she? LOL Love you both!
O.o Yum, this looks sooooo good! jus sayin! teehee
Question tho that I hope someone will answer…. Can leftovers be frozen and if so how and how long would it keep? I’m cooking for one and ought to have leftovers no matter how delicious it turns out.
Thanks in advance and thanks Christy for being you!!! Sure love your attitude and great recipes all the time.
Sounds very good, Christy…making this Skillet Lasagna tomorrow!
I can’t wait to hear what you think about it Deborah!!
Actually I did not make till tonight. Added salt and parmesan and served with garlic bread…YUM!!
Sounds so good,love cottage cheese and mazzarella making it today.Happy birthday Christy,mine was the 26 of Jan.Love your site God Bless you.
Thank you Elizabeth! Blessings to you!!
Yummy sounding – off to the local stores to see if they have cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, and mozzarella. And an onion. Sheesh, I’m out of everything in this kitchen!
That sounds like my kitchen Debbie, are you sure you aren’t at my house? I was looking this morning for a couple of ingredients and thought WOW, I am out of so much stuff.
This sounds so good…can’t wait to try it. I laughed so hard when you said “eye-talian”….if I get talking too fast I say it like that too…lol. My mama always did as well as “ra-seet” and “in-velope”…God bless her heart…
Have a great weekend, Christy…you always make me smile.
I hope you get the chance to try it soon Sue!! I hope you have a great weekend as well!!
I added turkey sausage and mushrooms to my ground turkey. It was Ohh So Yummy!!!!
Hillshire farm turkey smoked sausage.
This looks good but doesnt beat your Crockpot Lasagna imo!!
so much better than a “box” mix and just as easy! you should do a whole month on teaching people to eat better by throwing out the boxes and packets! THANKS!
do you have a
Food Show like Ree Drummond &
Tricha Yearwood?
do you have a food show like Ree Drummond & Tricha Yearwood?
I made this last night, but I made a couple of changes. I doubled the recipe and use half beef, half Italian sausage, I used ricotta instead of cottage cheese, but other then that I followed your recipe. It was so fast and easy and just great!! So much better then a box!!
I am so glad to hear you liked it Diane!!!
I made this tonight and it came out great. I did change/tweak the recipe a bit. I did use ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese. I also places spoonfuls of the mixture tucked into the noodles and added more mozzarella cheese to the top. I omitted the onions due to my allergies but added more seasonings. I might try the Italian sausage next time as one of your readers suggested. For a favor experiment I do plan on cooking the meat and sauce with seasonings the night before then finishing it the next day. I know spaghetti always taste better on the second day so I am curious if this will too. This recipe is going into my daily use cookbook.
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe Maryann!!!
I made this last night and it was a hit!! I only made minor additions; fresh garlic, splash of red wine to sauce, pinch of red pepper flakes, and a couple of pinches of sugar. I also doubled the recipe and baked in oven. I just love you Christy! I really enjoyed your pyrex collection as well. I saw you first some time back on Paula Deen show, and then ran across you again a couple of months ago while searching google on the topic on how to properly season new cast iron pans and low n behold found The Southernplate…soooo happy I did. I look forward each day to what you have sent out to my email…Keep up the great work!! Dont think I have the cast iron seasoning thing down pat yet but I will keep working on it.
I am so glad that you enjoyed the recipe Kim!!! And I am so glad that you found me again!!!
This is in my skipper right now!!!!! It smells soooooo good. I am about to take a picture and dish this up!!!
I hope you will share your picture with me on Facebook!! Enjoy!
I smiled when reading your definition of how many people a recipe serves — several years ago I read a recipe that stated the following:
“Feeds 6 polite or 4 hungry people”.
Sums it up, doesn’t it?
I LOVE IT!! Lol
I made this and we loved it! I did change a few things, but Christy says we can do that without hurting her feelings. I added about a can and a half of water and just added raw pasta to absorb it. And I used mafalda pasta. It’s those little miniature lasagna noodles. And for the cheese I used a cup of ricotta, a cup of mozzarella and a half cup of Parmesan. This was so easy and delicious. Thanks, Christy, for such a great idea!
I am so glad to hear you liked it Connie!!!
the hubby and I arnt bug cottage cheese people any substitutions or should i just mix it in and hope he doesn’t notice
This was great. My stepdaughter, who does not like lasagna enjoyed this meal. I let her help me by painting garlic butter (garlic, butter, and oregano) onto sliced bread. Made for a good evening.
I am so glad to hear yall like it!!! What a fun way to get her involved!!
I make something like this but I layer it with frozen cheese raviolis, Delish
That does sound delicious Sharon!!