Cheesy Garlic Bread Lasagna Skillet (Print Version)

Buttery garlic bread layered with meat sauce and three cheeses, baked in a cast-iron skillet for easy comfort food.

# What You'll Need:

→ Garlic Bread

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

→ Meat Sauce

06 - 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
07 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
08 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 can crushed tomatoes (15 ounces)
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
14 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese Mixture

15 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
16 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
17 - 1 large egg
18 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
19 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Additional Cheese

20 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with melted butter, minced garlic, parsley, and salt until evenly coated. Set aside.
02 - Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add chopped onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
04 - Mix in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
05 - In a small bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, egg, chopped basil, and black pepper until well blended.
06 - Layer half the garlic bread cubes in the skillet over the meat sauce, then dollop half the ricotta mixture and sprinkle with half the mozzarella. Repeat with remaining bread, ricotta, and mozzarella.
07 - Cover skillet loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
09 - Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley or basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent hours layering, but the whole thing comes together in under an hour with zero fussy technique.
  • Those buttery, garlicky bread cubes get crispy at the edges and soak up all the meaty sauce—it's the best of garlic bread and lasagna in one bite.
  • One skillet means one cleanup, which honestly might be the most love-worthy part of all.
02 -
  • Do not skip draining excess fat from the ground beef—a greasy sauce will make the whole dish taste heavy and the cheese won't melt properly.
  • The bread cubes will continue to absorb moisture as the skillet sits, so if you make this ahead and reheat it, you might need to add a splash of beef broth to keep it from drying out.
03 -
  • If your garlic bread cubes brown too quickly, reduce your oven temperature to 350°F and add about 5 minutes to the baking time—every oven runs slightly different, so watch for bubbly cheese and golden bread.
  • Make your own garlic butter mixture the night before so you can toss the bread cubes quickly on cooking day without any last-minute stress.
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