Cheesy Garlic Bread Lasagna Skillet (Printable)

Buttery garlic bread cubes layered with rich meat sauce and three cheeses, all baked to golden perfection in one skillet.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Garlic Bread Cubes

01 - 1 large baguette or Italian loaf, cut into 2-inch cubes
02 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Lasagna Filling

06 - 1 pound ground beef, Italian sausage, or plant-based alternative
07 - 1 small onion, diced
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 24 fluid ounces marinara sauce
10 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
11 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
14 - 1 large egg
15 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Set oven to 375°F (190°C).
02 - In a large bowl, combine melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and salt. Toss bread cubes until evenly coated. Set aside.
03 - Heat 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and diced onion; cook until beef is browned and onion is softened, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. Drain excess fat.
04 - Stir in minced garlic, marinara sauce, oregano, black pepper, and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
05 - In a separate bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan until smooth and well incorporated.
06 - Remove half of the meat sauce from the skillet and set aside.
07 - Layer half of the garlic bread cubes over the remaining sauce in the skillet. Dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the bread cubes, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
08 - Spoon the reserved meat sauce over the cheese layer. Top with remaining bread cubes, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
09 - Cover skillet loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbling and the top is golden brown.
11 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You skip the boiling and layering of noodles, which honestly saves your sanity on a weeknight.
  • The garlic bread cubes soak up all that savory meat sauce while staying perfectly crispy on top.
  • It's a showstopper you can bring straight to the table in a sizzling skillet, no plating required.
02 -
  • Cut your bread into actual cubes, not thin slices, or they'll disintegrate into the sauce instead of holding their structure.
  • Don't skip draining the fat from the meat; too much grease makes the filling soggy and the cheese won't meld properly.
  • Low-moisture mozzarella matters because regular fresh mozzarella releases too much water and the whole thing gets wet.
03 -
  • If you want heat, stir a pinch of red pepper flakes into your ricotta mixture before layering; it distributes more evenly than sprinkling it on top.
  • Make the ricotta mixture up to a day ahead, covered in the fridge, so you're not juggling multiple tasks on cooking day.
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