Cheesy Garlic Bread Lasagna Skillet (Printable View)

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

# Ingredient List:

→ 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 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

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat 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 a 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 bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan until smooth.
06 - Remove half 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.
08 - Spoon the reserved meat sauce over the cheese. Layer with remaining bread cubes, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella.
09 - Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and top is golden brown.
11 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It breaks the lasagna rulebook by ditching noodles for bread cubes, giving you crispy edges and tender centers in every bite.
  • Everything happens in one skillet, which means less cleanup and more time savoring what actually matters.
02 -
  • Drain your meat properly or the whole dish becomes greasy and heavy rather than rich and satisfying—don't skip this step thinking it won't matter.
  • The foil covering is essential for the first twenty minutes; without it, your bread cubes brown too quickly and dry out before the interior finishes cooking.
03 -
  • Let your ricotta mixture come to room temperature before layering if you've made it ahead; cold ricotta won't distribute as smoothly and will create thick pockets instead of creamy layers.
  • Invest in a meat thermometer if you're not confident about doneness—the interior should hit 165°F for food safety, and the skillet residual heat will keep climbing slightly after you remove it from the oven.
Return