Description
This Healthy Caprese Skillet Lasagna is a flavorful, lighter take on traditional lasagna, featuring fresh mozzarella, no-boil noodles, and a delicious tomato, herb, and milk sauce baked together in a cast iron skillet. Perfect for a family dinner, this dish combines the classic flavors of Caprese salad with the ease of a skillet meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Skillet Lasagna Base
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14 fluid ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
- 2 cups skim or 1% milk
- 5 dashes Italian seasoning
- Handful basil, torn
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme, stems removed
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- No boil lasagna noodles, quantity as needed to mostly submerge in sauce (estimated 6-8 noodles broken into pieces)
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F and position the rack in the middle to ensure even baking.
- Sauté Onion: Heat the olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat and sauté the chopped onion for 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes soft and translucent.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Make Sauce: Add the diced tomatoes with their juices, milk, Italian seasoning, fresh thyme leaves, torn basil, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir well to combine and allow the mixture to heat through gently.
- Layer Noodles: Break the no-boil lasagna noodles into manageable pieces and layer them into the skillet, ensuring they are mostly submerged in the sauce but leaving about an inch from the top to prevent bubbling over during cooking.
- Bake Lasagna: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 40 minutes, allowing the noodles to soften and flavors to meld.
- Add Mozzarella: Remove the skillet from the oven and evenly place the fresh mozzarella slices on top. Return the skillet to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese melts. Optionally, broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna sit for 5 to 10 minutes after removing it from the oven before serving to allow it to set for easier slicing and improved flavor melding.
Notes
- No-boil noodles simplify preparation and bake perfectly in the skillet’s sauce.
- Using skim or low-fat milk keeps this dish lighter without sacrificing creaminess.
- Fresh herbs like basil and thyme bring an authentic Caprese flavor.
- Broiling the cheese at the end adds a deliciously golden and slightly crispy top.
- Letting the lasagna rest before serving improves texture and flavor integration.
