Who knew you could use a cast-iron skillet to make lasagna?! Cast-Iron Lasagna is delicious proof that just about everything tastes better cooked in the beloved seasoned pan. Everything you love about regular lasagna–spicy sausage, a delicious red sauce, all the cheese you can dream of, and soft, smooshy lasagna noodles–can be found here, but just upgraded because it's all nestled into the cast-iron skillet to make sure the flavor is really packed into every bite. Once you try Cast-Iron Lasagna, you might just ditch your casserole dish until the end of time!
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 cups yellow onion, finely chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes • 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed • 3 (14.5-ounce) cans fire roasted diced tomatoes • 15 ounces ricotta • 1 egg yolk • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano • salt, to taste • pepper, to taste • 2 1/2 cups mozzarella, shredded • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated • 12 no-boil lasagna noodles, broken in half • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, optional, for garnishDirections
Place the oven rack in the middle position.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil.
Once the olive oil is shimmering, add the onion and cook until lightly browned, for about 6-7 minutes.
Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and sausage to the onions.
Use a wooden spoon to break the sausage up into bite pieces and cook until no longer pink, about 6-7 minutes.
Add the fire-roasted tomatoes to the sausage and onion mixture. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
Transfer the mixture to a bowl.
In a separate medium bowl, add the ricotta, egg yolk, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
In a third bowl, combine the mozzarella and the parmesan.
On the bottom of the empty skillet, spread 1 cup of the sauce.
Add 7 of the noodle halves around the edges of the skillet and 1 noodle half in the middle.
Add 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the noodles.
Top the ricotta mixture with 1/4 of the mozzarella cheese mixture.
Repeat the layering process two more times.
Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese mixture over the top.
Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until the edges are bubbling and the cheese is slightly golden brown, about 30-35 minutes.
Top with the basil and serve.
