Cheesy Beef Lasagna Skillet

Ingredients:

12 lasagna noodles, broken into bite-sized pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 small yellow onion, finely diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce

1/2 cup water

Salt and black pepper, to taste

1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Directions:

Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broken lasagna noodles and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Cook the Beef: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.

Add Onion and Garlic: Stir in the diced onion and garlic. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

Season the Sauce: Sprinkle in the Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix well to evenly coat the beef mixture.

Simmer with Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce and water. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer. Let it cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Combine with Pasta: Add the cooked noodles into the skillet. Stir until everything is well coated with the sauce.

Add Ricotta and Cheese: Drop spoonfuls of ricotta over the pasta, then top generously with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bake or Broil: If your skillet is oven-safe, place it under a preheated broiler for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbling. If not, cover and let it sit on low heat until cheese melts.

Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley and serve hot. Dig into that melty, cheesy goodness!