Say goodbye to the traditional, time-consuming lasagna and embrace the ultimate weeknight comfort food: this incredible Skillet Ravioli Lasagna. Affectionately known as “Lazy Lasagna” in our home, this dish redefines ease and flavor, delivering all the rich, cheesy goodness you crave in under 30 minutes, all in a single skillet. It’s the perfect solution for busy evenings when you desire a hearty, satisfying meal without the extensive prep and cleanup.
There’s an undeniable magic to a classic lasagna. It’s a dish that speaks volumes of comfort, love, and home-cooked goodness. In our household, it’s practically my husband’s love language; he’d happily enjoy it every week if he could. However, the reality of preparing a truly authentic lasagna – with its intricate layering, boiling noodles, and lengthy baking time – often means reserving it for special occasions. It’s a labor of love that, while rewarding, isn’t always feasible with today’s busy schedules.
We’ve explored various shortcuts over the years, including our go-to No Boil Lasagna recipe, which certainly streamlines the process. Yet, the quest for an even simpler, more efficient method persisted. This led to a culinary revelation: using fresh ravioli instead of traditional lasagna noodles. The moment this one-pot skillet lasagna hit our table, it was an instant, resounding success. It captures the heart and soul of lasagna, transforming it into a quick, accessible weeknight wonder.
If you’re anything like us, cozy, cheesy, and easy pasta recipes are always a favorite. Be sure to explore some of our other cherished pasta dishes: the creamy indulgence of Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta, the robust flavors of Italian Sausage Pasta Bake, the effortless delight of Creamy One Pot Pasta, or my personal favorite, this wholesome Easy Baked Pasta with Spinach!
Why You Will Love This Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
This “Lazy Lasagna” isn’t just a catchy name; it’s a promise of culinary convenience and deliciousness. Here’s why this skillet ravioli lasagna will quickly become a cherished part of your recipe rotation:
- Unmatched Simplicity: Forget the multi-step process of traditional lasagna. No more boiling noodles, no intricate layering, and definitely no struggling with stubborn oven dishes. This recipe simplifies the entire experience, making a gourmet-tasting meal achievable even on your busiest nights.
- Leftovers Are Legendary: Like many pasta dishes, this skillet ravioli lasagna often tastes even better the next day. The flavors meld and deepen overnight, creating an even more satisfying experience. It’s perfect for meal prep or a quick lunch the following day.
- Pantry-Friendly Ingredients: You’ll appreciate that this recipe calls for common kitchen staples. Most ingredients are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store, saving you time and hassle during shopping.
- One-Pot Wonder: The magic truly happens in one skillet. From browning the meat and simmering the sauce to cooking the ravioli and melting the cheese, everything is done in a single pan. This means significantly less cleanup, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy your meal. It’s the epitome of one pot meals perfection!
- Kid-Friendly Favorite: The cheesy, saucy goodness of this dish is a surefire hit with children and adults alike. It’s a comforting and familiar meal that even picky eaters will adore, making dinner time stress-free and enjoyable for the whole family.
- Endless Versatility: This recipe is a fantastic canvas for creativity. Easily switch up the type of ravioli, the marinara sauce, or add different vegetables and proteins. You can enjoy a new flavor variation every time you make it, ensuring this dish never gets boring.
- Quick from Start to Finish: Designed for speed, this Skillet Ravioli Lasagna is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes of active cooking. It’s a true weeknight warrior, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredient Notes
Understanding the role of each ingredient and the potential for substitutions can elevate your cooking experience. Here are some key notes on the components of our Skillet Ravioli Lasagna:
- Cottage Cheese vs. Ricotta: While traditional lasagna often features ricotta, I personally prefer using small curd cottage cheese in many of my dishes. It offers a wonderful tang and a slightly different texture that I find incredibly appealing. Moreover, it often provides a boost of protein. Feel free to use either cottage cheese or ricotta in this skillet ravioli lasagna based on your preference. For those who aren’t keen on the texture of cottage cheese curds, you can opt for whipped cottage cheese or even blend regular cottage cheese in a food processor for a smoother consistency before mixing it with the other cheeses.
- Ground Turkey for a Lighter Touch: To make this already rich and hearty dish a bit lighter, I love using ground turkey instead of ground beef or Italian sausage. It’s a lean protein that cooks up beautifully and, as a bonus, typically doesn’t need to be drained, simplifying the cooking process. If you prefer a richer flavor, lean ground beef or Italian sausage are excellent alternatives, but remember to drain any excess grease after browning.
- Choosing Your Ravioli: Our go-to choice is usually Rana refrigerated ravioli, particularly the mozzarella cheese variety, which provides a classic, comforting flavor. However, for the photos, I used a spinach and ricotta flavor, demonstrating the versatility of this recipe. You can experiment with any refrigerated ravioli filling you love—four cheese, mushroom, even butternut squash for a seasonal twist. While fresh, refrigerated ravioli cooks faster, you can absolutely use frozen ravioli; just be prepared for a slightly longer simmering time to ensure it cooks through to al dente.
- Freshly Shredded Cheese Makes a Difference: For the absolute best results, I highly recommend that you freshly shred your mozzarella cheese and grate your parmesan cheese. Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can hinder their melting ability, leading to a less creamy and cohesive texture. Freshly shredded cheese melts beautifully, creating that irresistible, bubbly, golden-brown topping that is the hallmark of a great lasagna.
Recipe Variations for Your Skillet Lasagna
One of the many joys of this Skillet Ravioli Lasagna is its adaptability. Feel free to customize it to your heart’s content, experimenting with different flavors and ingredients to suit your taste and what you have on hand. Here are some inspiring variations:
- Vary the Meat & Protein Options:
- Classic Meat Options: Instead of ground turkey, you can easily use Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), or ground beef. If using beef or sausage, ensure you drain any excess grease after browning to prevent the dish from becoming oily.
- Meatless Marvel: For a delicious vegetarian option, simply omit the meat entirely. You can boost the umami by adding more mushrooms or a splash of balsamic vinegar to the sauce.
- Plant-Based: Incorporate plant-based crumbles for a satisfying, meat-free alternative that mimics the texture of ground meat.
- Infuse with Fresh Herbs:
- Post-Broil Perfection: I adore sprinkling some fresh basil over the top after the cheese has melted and is bubbly. The heat gently wilts the basil, releasing its aromatic oils.
- Cheese Mixture Boost: For an extra layer of flavor, finely chop fresh basil, oregano, or parsley and mix them directly into the cottage cheese mixture.
- Boost with Other Vegetables:
- Leafy Greens: Stir in a handful of fresh spinach or finely chopped kale with the marinara sauce, allowing it to wilt as the sauce simmers.
- Mushrooms & Zucchini: Sauté sliced mushrooms alongside the onions and peppers, or add finely diced zucchini to the sauce for extra nutrition and texture.
- Roasted Vegetables: For a deeper flavor, you could even roast bell peppers or eggplant separately and then fold them into the sauce.
- Explore Marinara and Ravioli Combinations:
- Spice It Up: If you enjoy a kick, try using an Arrabbiata sauce (spicy marinara) for an extra burst of heat. A pinch more red pepper flakes can also do the trick.
- Creamy Indulgence: For a richer sauce, stir in a spoonful of cream cheese or a splash of heavy cream into your marinara.
- Diverse Ravioli Flavors: The options are endless! Experiment with different ravioli fillings such as mushroom, butternut squash, spicy sausage, or even seafood ravioli for a truly unique skillet lasagna experience. Each ravioli flavor will transform the overall profile of the dish.
- Pesto Swirl: For a vibrant twist, swirl a dollop of pesto into the marinara sauce, or even into the cottage cheese mixture for a fresh, herbaceous note.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
Get ready to create a masterpiece with minimal effort! Follow these simple steps to bring your Lazy Lasagna to life.
Step 1: Prepare the Cheese Mixture. In a small mixing bowl, combine the cottage cheese (or ricotta), 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan cheese, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, sea salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder. Stir all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Set this flavorful mixture aside.
Step 2: Sauté Aromatics and Brown the Meat. Heat a large, ovenproof skillet (cast iron or an enameled cast iron skillet works wonderfully) over medium-high heat. Add a generous drizzle of olive oil and let it heat until it glistens. Add the diced onions and red bell peppers to the hot skillet and sauté for 3-5 minutes until the onions begin to soften and become translucent, and the peppers are slightly tender-crisp. Next, add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it into smaller pieces with a spoon or spatula. Continue to brown the turkey until it is no longer pink, ensuring it’s cooked through. If using ground beef or Italian sausage, drain any excess grease at this point.
Step 3: Build the Sauce Base. Once the ground turkey is fully browned and the vegetables are softened, reduce the heat to medium. Pour in the entire jar of marinara sauce and 1 cup of chicken (or vegetable) broth. Stir everything together well, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to incorporate all the delicious flavors. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
Step 4: Add the Ravioli. As the sauce gently simmers, carefully add the refrigerated cheese ravioli to the skillet. Gently stir to ensure all the ravioli are coated by the savory marinara sauce. Use your spatula to lightly press the ravioli down into the sauce as much as possible, ensuring they are submerged and cook evenly. If the mixture appears too thick or the ravioli isn’t fully submerged, add the remaining ¼ cup of broth.
Step 5: Cook the Ravioli to Al Dente. Continue to simmer the ravioli in the sauce over medium heat. For fresh, refrigerated ravioli, this will typically take about 5 minutes. If you are using frozen ravioli, it will require approximately 7-8 minutes, or slightly longer. Cook the ravioli until it is al dente, meaning it’s tender but still has a slight bite to it. Avoid overcooking, as it will continue to cook slightly when broiled.
Step 6: Layer with Cheesy Goodness. Once the ravioli has reached al dente perfection, turn off the heat. Carefully spread the reserved cottage cheese and seasoning mixture in a thin, even layer over the top of the ravioli. Make sure to cover the entire surface. Then, evenly sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese layer. You can use anywhere from ½ to 1 cup, depending on how cheesy you like it!
Step 7: Broil to Golden Perfection. Carefully transfer the skillet to your oven, placing it under the broiler. Broil for 3-5 minutes, keeping a close eye on it to prevent burning. The goal is for the cheese to melt into a bubbling, golden-brown crust. Once achieved, carefully remove the skillet from the oven.
Step 8: Garnish and Serve. Allow the Skillet Ravioli Lasagna to cool for about 5 minutes before serving. This brief resting period helps the cheese set and makes serving easier. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley or basil, if desired, for a burst of fresh flavor and color. Serve immediately with warm crusty bread and your favorite fresh salad recipe for a complete and satisfying meal.
Recipe Tips for Success
Achieving the perfect Skillet Ravioli Lasagna is simple with these helpful tips:
- Mind the Ravioli Cooking Time: The most crucial tip is to avoid overcooking the ravioli during the simmering stage. It should be just al dente, as it will continue to cook slightly when resting in the hot skillet and during the brief broiling period. Adding the cottage cheese mixture just as the ravioli reaches al dente ensures a perfectly tender bite.
- Smooth Cottage Cheese Layer (Optional): If you’re not a fan of the slightly lumpy texture that cottage cheese can have, but still want its unique tang and added protein, consider using small curd cottage cheese or even whipping it. You can purchase pre-whipped cottage cheese or simply pop regular cottage cheese into a food processor for a few pulses to achieve a smoother consistency before blending it into your cheese mixture.
- Drain Excess Grease from Meat: If you opt to use less lean ground meat, such as ground beef or Italian sausage, it’s essential to drain any excess grease from the skillet after browning the meat. This prevents the final dish from becoming greasy and ensures the sauce maintains its optimal consistency and flavor.
- Choose the Right Skillet: An oven-safe skillet is non-negotiable for this recipe, as the final step involves broiling. Cast iron or enameled cast iron skillets are excellent choices because they distribute heat evenly and transition seamlessly from stovetop to oven.
- Don’t Skip the Broiler: The broiler step is short but vital! It creates that irresistible, bubbly, and golden-brown cheese crust that makes lasagna so appealing. Keep a close eye on it, as broilers can vary in intensity, and cheese can go from perfectly golden to burnt in a flash.
- A Touch of Sweetness: Sometimes, marinara sauce can be a bit acidic. A tiny pinch of sugar (¼ to ½ teaspoon) added to the sauce along with the broth can balance the flavors beautifully, enhancing the tomato’s natural sweetness.
Storage and Reheating
Knowing how to properly store and reheat your Skillet Ravioli Lasagna ensures you can enjoy its deliciousness for days to come:
- Refrigeration: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Ensure the dish has cooled completely before transferring it to storage to prevent condensation and maintain freshness.
- Reheating:
- Microwave: For a quick reheat, individual portions can be warmed in the microwave until heated through.
- Oven/Skillet: To maintain a crispier cheese topping, reheat larger portions in an oven-safe dish covered with foil at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until warm. You can remove the foil for the last few minutes to re-crisp the cheese. Alternatively, gently reheat in a covered skillet over low heat on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth if the sauce seems too thick.
- Freezing: Freezing this Skillet Ravioli Lasagna is generally not recommended. The primary reason is that ravioli, once thawed and reheated, tends to lose its firm, al dente texture and can become somewhat mushy. However, the flavor remains incredibly delicious, so if you prioritize convenience and are willing to compromise slightly on texture, it is certainly possible to freeze it. If you choose to freeze, store in an airtight, freezer-safe container. It will keep for approximately 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Other Favorite Pasta Recipes
If you loved this easy Skillet Ravioli Lasagna, you’ll definitely want to try these other comforting pasta dishes from our kitchen:
Dinner
Simple Ground Beef Pasta Skillet
Salads
Tomato Basil Pasta Salad
Pasta
Ground Beef Stuffed Shells
Pasta
Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest for all the latest!
Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 red bell pepper, small diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 ¼ c small curd cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese
- 1½-2 c shredded mozzarella cheese, separated
- ½ c grated parmesan cheese
- 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp sea salt, more or less to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 24 oz. jar of marinara
- 1 to 1 ¼ c chicken broth, vegetable will work as well
- 20 oz refrigerated cheese ravioli
- chopped parsley or basil to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Add the cottage cheese (or ricotta), 1 cup of the mozzarella, parmesan, garlic, and seasonings to a small bowl. Stir to combine and set aside.
- Heat a large, ovenproof skillet to medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil and heat until glistening. Add the onions and peppers and sauté until onions start to soften. Add the ground turkey and break into smaller pieces and brown until no longer pink inside.
- Once the meat is browned, shift the heat to medium and add the marinara sauce and 1 cup of broth and stir to combine.
- Simmer the sauce until it comes to a gentle boil. Add in the ravioli and try to stir to allow it to become coated by the sauce, pressing it down into it as much as possible. You can add the extra broth if the mixture seems to have boiled down too much.
- Simmer the ravioli in the sauce for about 5 minutes for fresh or about 7-8 minutes for frozen, longer if needed. Cook the ravioli until al dente.
- When the ravioli is al dente, spread the cheese and seasoning mixture in a thin, even layer, covering the ravioli. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, you can use ½-1 cup, more as desired.
- Place the skillet in the oven and broil for 4-5 minutes to allow the cheese to melt and become browned and bubbly. Top with freshly chopped parsley or basil if desired. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Do not overcook the ravioli. It will continue to cook slightly when sitting in the oven, so it’s best to add the cottage cheese mixture over top when it is just before or right at al dente.
Use a small curd cottage cheese, or you can even whip the cottage cheese for smoother texture. If you are not a huge fan of cottage cheese being lumpy in the top layer but want the added protein, you can buy cottage cheese that is already whipped or even pop it in the food processor and smooth it out before adding to the cheese mixture.
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Freezing is not recommended as the ravioli texture is lacking after thawing and reheating, but the flavor is still amazing, so if you really would like to freeze it, you can. It will keep for about 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question?
Leave a comment below!
Shop This Post
Garlic Press
Buy Now →
Box Grater
Buy Now →
Stainless Steel Pan
Buy Now →