Skillet Spinach Lasagna_details

Wow friends and family with this skillet lasagna, a modern take on the classic comfort-food casserole. With layers of homemade tomato sauce, lasagna noodles, ricotta, and spinach, every bite is oozing with flavor. Starting the cooking process in the skillet ensures the outer edges achieve maximum crispiness, and finishing it under the broiler allows the cheese to bubble and brown. Instead of cutting into squares, divide into four wedges, and serve with a green salad and hunks of crusty baguette. For a vegetarian version, replace the sausage in the sauce with sautéed eggplant or mushrooms.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound ground mild Italian sausage
• 1 (28-oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1 (16-oz) container ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 8 ounces (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 6 ounces no-boil lasagna noodles
• 7 cups loosely packed baby spinach (about 5 oz), divided
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook the sausage, stirring often, in a 12-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high until cooked through 
and browned, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add the tomatoes, Italian 
seasoning, and ½ teaspoon of the salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce begins to simmer, about 4 minutes. Meanwhile, stir together 
the ricotta, egg, 1 cup of the mozzarella, and the remaining salt in a medium bowl.
2. Remove the skillet from heat; set aside 3 cups of the sauce in a bowl. Preheat broiler 
with oven rack 6 inches from heat. Place a layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce in 
the skillet, breaking the pieces to fit as necessary. Top with 
1 cup of the reserved sauce, 
¾ cup of the ricotta mixture, and 3 cups of the spinach. Repeat the layers twice with the remaining noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, and spinach, omitting the spinach from the top layer. 
3. Return the skillet to heat; cover and cook over medium until the noodles are softened and the sauce begins to 
 bubble, about 20 minutes. 
Top with the remaining 1 cup of spinach; cover and cook 
just until the spinach wilts, about 1 minute. Uncover and top with the remaining 1 cup 
of mozzarella. Broil until the cheese begins to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil.

Makes 4

Hands-On Time 25 min

Total Time 50 min