Gooey, cheesy lasagna might just be our favorite dinner on the planet. But slow-cooking the sauce, sautéing all of the filling and boiling the noodles is not exactly weeknight appropriate. That’s where we turn to Italian goddess Giada De Laurentiis for some guidance. Her brilliant hack uses only one skillet and is ready in just about 30 minutes.
What you need: A Dutch oven or a large, deep skillet with a lid, plus all of the ingredients you’d normally use to make lasagna (thinly sliced veggies are key). Swap your regular lasagna noodles for a no-boil version.
What you do: If you’re making your own marinara, cook it in the skillet first. Start with half of your sauce in the skillet. Top with ⅓ of the noodles, a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, veggies, sauce and cheese. Repeat the layers twice. Cover and simmer on the stove until the lasagna is cooked and the cheese melts, 20 to 25 minutes.
The results: We’re happy to report that this shortcut doesn’t diminish the integrity of the classic Italian dish. It’s every bit as wonderful as the saucy, cheesy original. Plus, there’s only one dish to do. Win-win.
