Cheesy Garlic Bread Lasagna Skillet (Print Version)

A cast-iron skillet dish layering garlic bread cubes with meat sauce, ricotta, and melted mozzarella for golden, bubbling Italian comfort.

# 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 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

# How-To 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 and set aside.
03 - Heat a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and onion; cook until beef is browned and onion is softened, approximately 5-6 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, combine ricotta, egg, and Parmesan until smooth consistency is achieved.
06 - Remove half of the meat sauce from the skillet and reserve for later layering.
07 - Layer half of the garlic bread cubes over the remaining sauce in the skillet. Dollop half of the ricotta mixture over bread cubes, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
08 - Spoon reserved meat sauce over the cheese layer. Add 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 an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbling and top is golden brown.
11 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh parsley if desired.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • It's essentially two comfort foods in one skillet, so you get that garlic bread satisfaction without needing a side.
  • The cast iron does the heavy lifting, creating edges that crisp up while the center stays creamy and melted.
  • Dinner comes together in under an hour, which means you can feed six people without spending your whole evening in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't skip removing the foil halfway through; that's what creates the golden, crispy top that makes this dish actually exciting to look at.
  • The moisture from the sauce will soften the bread as it bakes, but it won't turn to mush if you use sturdy bread and don't let it sit in the skillet for hours before baking.
03 -
  • Let your baguette sit out for a few hours before cutting it so it's not so soft and squishy; slightly stale bread actually holds together better in this dish.
  • If your marinara sauce tastes too acidic or thin, let it simmer for an extra 10 minutes off-heat before using it; depth of flavor matters when it's such a central component of the dish.
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