8uncooked lasagna noodles (regular, not oven-ready)broken into small pieces
1cupricotta
1cupfreshly grated parmesan cheese
2cupsshredded mozzarella
Salt & pepperto taste
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400F and move the rack to the top third of the oven.
In a large, oven-safe skillet (use a skillet no smaller than 12"), add the sausage meat and onion and cook over medium-high until browned (about 10 minutes), breaking it up as you go along.
Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add in the marinara sauce, broth, and oregano, and give it a good stir, then add in the lasagna noodles.
Once it starts to bubble again, reduce the heat so it's simmering fairly rapidly but not boiling like crazy. Let it cook until the noodles are bendy but not fully cooked (al dente) and the liquid has reduced considerably (it should look more like pasta sauce than soup). This should take about 15-20 minutes depending on how hot you're cooking it. Stir it every few minutes to ensure nothing is sticking to the bottom of the pan and that the noodles all get a chance to be submerged in the sauce as it tends to cook down fairly quickly. Adjust heat as needed to maintain a simmer. Important: don't rush through this step or the noodles won't end up fully cooked by the end.
Remove from the heat. Dollop on the ricotta (I just use a spoon), and then sprinkle the parmesan and mozzarella evenly over top. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes, and then broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese (watch it carefully).
Let it sit for 5 minutes, and then serve. Season with extra salt & pepper if needed. Fresh basil and/or parsley are delicious on top but totally optional!
Notes
Use ground sausage meat or if using whole sausages, take the meat out of the casings. Anything around 16 oz/1 lb. will work.
Troubleshooting tips: since this is a one pot meal and every oven/stove/skillet can vary, timing or liquid measurements may need to be adjusted on the fly. The key to this recipe is ensuring that the noodles get cooked al dente before you put the skillet in the oven. If you have cooked them on too high of a heat and you find the noodles are still quite hard and the liquid has disappeared well before 15-20 minutes have gone by, add in a splash more broth, reduce the heat, and cook them for a bit longer. See blog post for more tips and step-by-step photos.