What is a lasagna casserole? This easy lasagna pasta bake has all the same elements of a classic lasagna - meat sauce, cheese sauce and penne pasta plus more cheese of course, but the process is so easy! Everything is combined in a casserole dish (no layering required) and it bakes way faster!
Bring a 5 Qt pot of water to boil and add 1 Tbsp salt. Add penne pasta and cook al dente according to package instructions.
In a large, deep, oven-safe pan, combine beef and onion. Sauté over med/high heat, until meat is fully cooked and onion is soft (5 to 8 mins), breaking up meat with a spatula. Discard any excess fat released from beef.
Stir in seasonings: 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp pepper. Add marinara and bring to simmer then remove from heat.
Meanwhile, crumble up ranchero cheese in a medium bowl. Add 1 Tbsp sour cream, 1 egg, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, 2 Tbsp parsley and 1 tsp garlic salt. Stir together then add it to the meat sauce and mix just until combined.
Stir in cooked pasta and add reserved pasta water to taste for a juicier casserole (I used 1/2 cup pasta water).* Smooth out the top then sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheddar and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake at 350˚F for 20 min to melt cheese and make the center steaming hot.
Notes
*Transfer to casserole dish if not using an oven-safe pan.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
521
% Daily Value*
Fat
19
g
29
%
Saturated Fat
9
g
56
%
Cholesterol
97
mg
32
%
Sodium
1373
mg
60
%
Potassium
691
mg
20
%
Carbohydrates
50
g
17
%
Fiber
3
g
13
%
Sugar
7
g
8
%
Protein
34
g
68
%
Vitamin A
890
IU
18
%
Vitamin C
8.3
mg
10
%
Calcium
435
mg
44
%
Iron
3.3
mg
18
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.