11 February 2008

Skillet Lasagna the One "Pan" Meal..it will have you "Hooked" :D

Skillet Lasagna
This is another one of those "go to" recipes that I rely upon quite heavily for ease of preparation on busy weekdays. I don't know of anyone personally who does not like pasta. I usually have some homemade pasta sauce ready and waiting in my freezer, but, don't always have the time to spend more than a half hour in the kitchen at most during the week. Skillet lasagna is a one pan meal that can be made quickly and easily. I have 3 jobs in case I haven't mentioned it already before..wink....wink.. Throw together a salad and you are set for a quick and hearty meal!!

The recipe is also open to changes....whatever you have on hand. This time around I started with sauteed onion and garlic and added some mushrooms. I always love the addition of the spinach and the ricotta cheese....although sometimes I substitute cottage cheese. To make this dish I use a pasta called Mafaldine. It looks like thin strips of lasagna noodles and adds a unique texture to the dish. It's ridges allow the sauce to cling to the pasta for a more central flavour in each bite. Depending on the thickness of my homemade sauce it is sometimes necessary to add water or a mixture of water and tomato juice in order for the pasta to cook properly.

Serves 6
If you are looking for a one pan meal head on over to Meeta's Monthly Mingle. This month the theme is One Pan Dinners.....so this is perfect :D for the event at What's for Lunch Honey?


**Skillet Lasagna**

Basic Starter Recipe:

8 oven-ready lasagne noodles (in this case Mafaldine)
1 pkg chopped spinach
1 lb lean ground beef
3 cups pasta sauce (your choice or homemade)
1 cup partly-skimmed ricotta cheese
1 cup (4 oz) pizza shreds ( a blend of mozzarella, provolone, Parmesan and Romano cheeses) or other shredded cheese blend of your choice

Place skillet over high heat. Add beef and cook breaking up clumps with a wooden spoon,
about 3 minutes until no longer pink. Add pasta sauce and ½ cup water and bring to a
simmer.

Add noodles and spinach to pan. Cover and simmer 5 minutes (10 minutes if using Mafaldine), stirring.

Dot with spoonfuls of ricotta cheese, then sprinkle with cheese shreds. Cover, reduce heat to
low and cook 3 minutes until cheese melts.

Remove from heat; serve from skillet.


You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author/owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.
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29 comments:

  1. Yummm...can't wait to try this. I have always made the from scratch, takes way to long type of lasagna but this is way more up my alley!

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  2. That looks like a great quick meal, Valli! What a cute pasta shape!

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  3. Val ,the dish does look fabulous and I like the word "easy".

    I'll bookmark this for when I want a lasagna but no time on hand.

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  4. With my husband's injury, this looks like the perfect quick meal to keep him happy! Thanks!

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  5. What a great idea! You're like Rachael Ray.
    Don't hit me!

    Did you come up with this idea yourself? I've never heard of it before.

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  6. What a brilliantly speedy lasagne fix for mid-week. I love the oven-baked version, but it does take so long, doesn't it? And is it just me, or does it use every single pan in the kitchen?! Your version is one I really must try soon - thank you for sharing it.

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  7. wow, I love lasagna, but never heard of a skillet version:) looks great!

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  8. I saw these particular noodles at our local Italian grocers Emeline and thought it would make great pan lasagna. I can't say it is totally my idea because I have seen many similar goulash type recipes.It sure is quick though :D Yumm-O....wink...wink...I'm not as perky as Rachel Ray...wink...wink...

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  9. This is another dish to bookmark. I always make a pasta dish when I'm short of time and we will eat any kind of pasta.

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  10. Perfecto! We all need these quick alternatives to time-consuming well-loved dishes like lasagna. It looks so wonderfully hearty in the photo too.

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  11. This is so smart, I don't know why I never thought of it!

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  12. This looks really tasty. I'm always on the lookout for easy dinners. I spend all day baking and forget to plan an actual meal. :-)

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  13. Making a lasagna in a pan sounds like a quick way to enjoy lasagna.

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  14. Thanks Ben :D I have my dish from your blog all picked out. I love this event :D

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  15. Looks quick and easy--the perfect thing for the middle of the week (and agreed, everybody loves pasta)! I just so happen to making lasagna this evening from an assortment of leftovers...

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  16. Valli this looks delicious, and so much easier than typical stove-destroying lasagna. Have you thought to enter it in Meeta's "One Pot Dinner" Monthly Mingle?

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  17. Thanks Heather...consider it done :D

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  18. I like this skillet version...now why didn't I ever think of it :) Thanks!!! Have to try it..

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  19. This is genius. I am definitely going to be trying it. Tanks for sharing.

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  20. Ai, ai, ai, Val; I just had lunch and now seeing this wonderful pasta I'm mouthwatered... looks sooo good!!!

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  21. Oh wow! Val this looks simply delicious. I love the way it all comes together in one pan. Perfect for the MM! Glad you joined us!

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  22. I've never seen Mafaldine before, but now I'll be looking for it! What a great way to get dinner on the table quickly--pasta is a year-round favorite at our house!

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  23. This looks fantastic!!!! i have a hubby who doesn't like cheese or pasta! So having lasagna is really just a restaurant experience for me these days.

    how many portions does this recipe make?

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  24. This makes enough for 4 RuthEBabes

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  25. Thanks Bellini! I look forward to making this!!!

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  26. hey bellini.....ur lasagna looks delicious! however being a veggie what can i substitute the beef with?

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  27. hey bellini,

    Also can u add me to ur blog list? my blog is http://iyengarskitchen.blogspot.com

    will reciprocate too!

    thanks
    Veda

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  28. I love Italian food and especially lasagna! I love this simpler versian. It looks incredible.

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Welcome to my home. Thank you for choosing to stay a while and for sharing our lives through food. I appreciate all your support, comments, suggestions, and daily encouragement.

Val

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