You'll Love This Easy One-Pot Lasagna Skillet Recipe
Traditional lasagna is warming and cozy and comforting, but it’s undeniably a bit of a heavy meal. And if you’re on a health journey, it can be even more difficult to fit cheesy, meaty lasagna into your diet. This skillet lasagna recipe, however, takes all of the classic lasagna flavors you know and love and uses smart, simple swaps to make the dish healthier, lighter, and higher in protein.
Packed with lean ground beef, mushrooms, and a sneaky twist on traditional lasagna noodles, this delicious lasagna recipe is sure to become a family favorite. It’s cozy and comforting without being carb-heavy and—even better—it’s a one-pan meal that comes together quickly and easily—we love a 30-minute meal—which means you can eat lasagna any night of the week.
My favorite part of this recipe is the noodle hack, which removes classic pasta sheets and instead, subs in sliced Egglife wraps. These wraps cook up similarly to noodles, meaning you won’t feel that you’re missing out on anything with this tasty dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Lasagna Skillet Recipe
High in Protein: With a whopping 44g of protein per serving, it’s a great way to keep you feeling full and satisfied.
Low in Carbs: Using Egglife wraps keeps this dish lower-carbs without sacrificing that classic lasagna feel.
Quick & Easy: All the lasagna flavor you crave, but made in a skillet in half the time.
Healthy Comfort Food: Comforting, cheesy, and filling—but without the heaviness of traditional lasagna.
Why Use Egglife Wraps?
Egglife wraps are one of my favorite tips when it comes to creating lower-carb and higher-protein meals. I love how versatile they are and they are an absolute game-changer in this recipe. Here’s why:
Low in Carbs: Traditional lasagna noodles are made from a wheat pasta dough, meaning they add quite a few carbs to a dish like lasagna. But Egglife wraps are low-carb, which makes them a great alternative to a ton of different foods like noodles, sandwich wraps, and more.
High in Protein: Because they’re made using egg whites, Egglife wraps boost the protein content of recipes, which can help you feel fuller for longer. In this recipe, we swap pasta for the wraps, which increases the protein content of the recipe while at the same time decreasing the carb and calorie counts in the dish.
Versatile: I love how versatile Egglife wraps are! They’re not overly flavorful on their own (perfect for a recipe like this one) and have a soft, pliable texture that can help them blend well into the lasagna. I just love them in this dish because you still feel like you’re eating lasagna, even though it’s a healthier, high-protein version.
Gluten-Free: While I especially love using Egglife wraps because of their protein boost, they’re also gluten-free, so if you can’t tolerate gluten, this hack is a great one to use. It’ll give you a similar texture to pasta, but without the wheat.
Using Egglife wraps in this lasagna skillet means you can enjoy all the traditional lasagna flavors you love with a healthier, lighter twist!
Ricotta vs. Cottage Cheese
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is the lasagna classic. Creamy and rich with a touch of subtle sweetness, it gives lasagna the velvety texture we all love. Ricotta is made from whey and has a fine, grainy texture and fairly neutral flavor that goes so well with tons of different sauces, pasta, and even pizza.
Cottage Cheese
You know I love cottage cheese for its versatility and high protein content, but does it belong in lasagna? I’d argue the answer is “yes.” It has a lower fat content and higher protein content than other creamy cheeses, so it can be a great option if you’re looking to lighten up your dish a bit without sacrificing the creaminess of other classics like ricotta. With a slightly tangy flavor and chunkier texture, it puts a slight spin on your usual lasagna recipe without completely changing it up.
Why I Love A Ricotta Lasagna
Classic Flavor: Ricotta delivers that traditional Italian lasagna taste.
Creamy Texture: It melts into the layers, creating a smooth, decadent bite.
Customizable: Mix it with fresh herbs, Parmesan, or a beaten egg for extra richness.
Why I Love Adding Cottage Cheese To Lasagna
High-Protein Hero: Perfect for those looking to amp up their protein intake.
Lower in Fat: A great option for lighter lasagna recipes.
Budget-Friendly: It’s often more affordable than ricotta.
Ricotta vs Cottage Cheese: A Nutritional Breakdown
Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison (per 100g):
Cheese Calories Protein Fat
Ricotta (Whole) 174 7g 13g
Cottage Cheese (Low-Fat) 81 11g 1g
So, Should You Choose Ricotta or Cottage Cheese?
Go for ricotta if:
You’re craving a classic, rich lasagna.
You’re more worried about the creamy, indulgent texture of ricotta than any health benefits.
Pick cottage cheese if:
You want to cut back on calories and fat.
You’re looking to sneak in extra protein.
You don’t mind a tangy twist.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced (about 3 teaspoons)
1 lb lean ground beef (96% lean) or ground turkey (you could also use Italian sausage, if you prefer)
1 ½ cups chopped mushrooms (I used 2 servings of the frozen Mushroom Medley from Trader Joe's)
1 (24 oz) jar of marinara sauce or your favorite pasta sauce (under 50 cals per serving)
1 package of Egglife wraps, cut into wide strips (these will be your "noodles")
Italian seasoning, to taste
3/4 cup of cottage cheese - I like fat-free (about 3 dollops)
2 oz shredded light mozzarella (about 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Optional: Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
Heat your large skillet: Start by heating the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Once it’s warm, add the diced onions and garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
Cook the ground beef: Add the lean ground meat to the skillet, seasoning it with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked through.
Add veggies & sauce: Add in the mushrooms and tomato sauce. Give it a good stir to combine everything, then add your Egglife wrap strips to the meat sauce. Cover and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until everything is heated through.
Blend cottage cheese: While that’s cooking, blend your cottage cheese using a blender or immersion blender until smooth and creamy.
Top with cheese: Sprinkle the lasagna skillet with shredded mozzarella, then spoon dollops of the blended cottage cheese over the top. Cover the skillet again until the cheese melts. If you don't have a lid for your skillet, cover it with aluminum foil.
Finish & serve your easy skillet lasagna: Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving - Serves 4)
Calories: 317
Protein: 44g
Carbs: 15g
Fat: 9g
Recipe Tips & Variations
Add Veggies: Boost the fiber and nutrition in your lasagna skillet by adding spinach (if you use frozen, remember to squeeze out the excess moisture!), bell peppers, zucchini, or peas.
Vegetarian Option: Swap the ground beef for your favorite plant-based protein, lentils, chickpeas, or crumbled tofu and make a veggie lasagna.
Spice It Up: Want a little kick? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the sauce!
Try it Blended: Don’t love the texture of cottage cheese curds? No problem! Blending your cottage cheese gives you all of the benefits of cottage cheese, plus a smoother, creamier consistency.
Make Sure You Layer Correctly: If you haven’t made lasagna before (or even if it’s just been a while), you may not know that there are ways to layer your casserole that’ll give you the best results. Start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of your baking dish to keep everything from sticking to the pan and make sure to end with a layer of mozzarella cheese so you get a gorgeous golden brown finish.
FAQs
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Yes, you can! However, keep in mind that regular noodles will increase the carb content and may need to be pre-cooked before adding them to the skillet. They’ll also lower the protein content in the dish, which isn’t ideal if you’re trying to hit a certain number of grams each day.
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You can substitute ricotta cheese for the cottage cheese. It’ll still be creamy and higher in protein, though likely not as high as if you used cottage cheese. Make sure you don't buy ricotta salata by mistake—that's a harder cheese that won't give you the creamy layer you're looking for in your lasagna!
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You can keep leftover lasagna skillet in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to eat, reheat it on the stove or in the microwave until it’s warmed through and the cheese is bubbly.
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Yes! You can freeze this lazy lasagna. Just make sure to store it in a freezer-safe container, and it will last up to 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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To round out your meal, consider serving a side salad or some roasted vegetables alongside your skillet lasagna. You could also pair it with some garlicky sautéed spinach—it would be delicious!
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Absolutely! You can replace the ground beef with a plant-based meat alternative, or use lentils, crumbled tofu, or chickpeas for a vegetarian version. Lentils would be great here!
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You sure can! Mixing the two cheeses might be the perfect balance. You’ll get the creaminess of the ricotta with some added protein from the cottage cheese. You can blend the cottage cheese for a creamy, smooth cheese mixture or leave the curds as they are and embrace the different textures.
I love this recipe because it's the easiest lasagna, ready in minutes, and perfect for busy weeknights. It's quick, simple, flavorful, and healthy. The perfect meal prep recipe as the weather gets chillier.
You'll Love This Easy One-Pot Lasagna Skillet Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (about 3 teaspoons)
- 1 lb lean ground beef (96% lean)
- 1 ½ cups chopped mushrooms (I used 2 servings of the frozen Mushroom Medley from Trader Joe's)
- 1 (24 oz) jar of pasta sauce (under 50 cals per serving)
- 1 package of Egglife wraps, cut into wide strips (these will be your "noodles")
- Italian seasoning, to taste
- 3/4 cup fat-free cottage cheese (about 3 dollops)
- 2 oz shredded light mozzarella
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat your skillet: Start by heating the olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Once it’s warm, add the diced onions and garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is translucent and fragrant.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the lean ground meat to the skillet, seasoning it with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked through.
- Add veggies & sauce: Add in the mushrooms and tomato sauce. Give it a good stir to combine everything, then add your Egglife wrap strips to the meat sauce. Cover and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes until everything is heated through.
- Blend cottage cheese: While that’s cooking, blend your cottage cheese using a blender or immersion blender until smooth and creamy.
- Top with cheese: Sprinkle the lasagna skillet with shredded mozzarella, then spoon dollops of the blended cottage cheese over the top. Cover the skillet again until the cheese melts.
- Finish & serve your easy skillet lasagna: Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
317Fat
9 gCarbs
15 gProtein
44 g