I am so taken by the idea that sheet pan dinners have become all the rage when it comes to recipes. It is kind of fun to create and the optics make the dinner preparer feel like it is easier to create a sheet pan dinner than a regular dinner. (Even though, sometimes it is more complicated). This got me thinking!!! I love cooking in cast iron far more than a sheet pan. It feels like less work because you don’t have to line the sheet pan with parchment or foil, and a cast iron pan is so much easier to clean. This is an idea for cast iron skillet lasagna, and I promise you, you may never go back to regular lasagna again! This is so fun to assemble and a great way to cook with kids. Enjoy!
Total Time:
1 hourhour15 minutesminutes
Serves:
7
Ingredients
1Can28 oz. crushed fire roasted tomatoes
1jar24 oz. Rao’s arrabbiata sauce
1Tbs.EVOO
1Tbs.Grass Fed organic unsalted butter
1chopped red onion
3minced garlic cloves
¼tsp.red pepper flakes
1lb.spicy Italian sausageout of the casing
1lb.lean ground organic beef
12oz.whole-milk Ricotta cheese
1egg lightly beaten
1tsp.minced fresh thyme
2c.shredded mozzarella cheese
¼c.grated Parmesan cheese
12no boil lasagna noodles broken in half
3Tbs.chiffonade fresh basil
Directions
Pre heat oven to 400 degrees
Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes.
Add the oil and butter and heat till shimmering. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt and cook until translucent and slightly browned, about 6 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and pepper flakes and cook until the scent becomes strong for about 20 seconds.
Add the meats and cook breaking up the meat with a spatula or wooden spoon. Cook for approximately 5-7 minutes until the meat is no longer pink.
Stir in the tomatoes and the arrabbiata sauce. Bring to a simmer for about 10 minutes and transfer to a bowl after the sauce has thickened a bit.
In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, thyme salt and pepper.
Then combine the Mozzarella and paremesan in a third bowl.
Now let’s assemble:
Spread enough sauce to cover the bottom of the pan about ½ inch deep. Then shingle the 6 noodle halves around the sauce in the pan, then place a sheet over the middle.
Dollop 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, then the mozzarella mixture, then the sauce. Repeat this same layering order 2-3 times as your pan will allow.
Always begin with the noodles, always end in sauce.
Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
Place skillet in oven and bake until cheese is bubbly and golden brown about 40 minutes.
Let lasagna cool and set for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with basil, cut as you would a pizza or pie and serve.