Name: Skillet Turkey Lasagna
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 18 oz ground turkey; 1 can tomato sauce; 2 medium onions; 3 cloves garlic; 18 oz pasta shells; 3-4 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp granulated garlic; 1 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp ground pepper; 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 cup parmesan (shredded); 2 cups milk; 3 tbsp all-purpose flour; 4 tbsp butter; 1 tsp powdered nutmeg; 1 tsp white ground pepper; 1 tsp salt

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Skillet turkey lasagna or the shortcut lasagna is one of the most preferred comfort food because of its delicious taste and creamy texture.

The recipe involves simple and accessible ingredients. It is a recipe to keep and repeat on any needed occasion. There is no need to cook anything ahead of time. The skillet lasagna is fabulous because it is time-saving, and because in less than one hour you will be indulging one of the most soothing, creamy, and flavorful dishes. Moreover, in this recipe, I will share with you how to cook the homemade bechamel sauce from scratch. Pin this recipe because it is too good to miss.

If you, however, have the inspiration to cook something authentic, here is the link for the recipe of the traditional Lasagna Bolognese.

How to cook bechamel sauce at home?

Although there is a wide variety of already cooked bechamel sauces on the shelves of your supermarket, try this recipe and you will never again buy it. Homemade bechamel is creamy, nutty-flavored, and authentic. No preservatives or artificial flavors added is what makes the sauce even more valuable and worth cooking. Also, to leave no room for doubts, bechamel sauce made at home is done easily and is a budget-friendly cooking adventure.

To prepare the sauce you need a saucepan and a whisk to assist you and facilitate your work during the process. For this exact recipe, you will need 2 cups of warm milk, 3 shaved tbsp of all-purpose flour, 4 tbsp of butter, 1 tsp of powdered nutmeg, 1 tsp of white powdered pepper, and salt to taste.

Now heat the saucepan, add in the butter and wait until it melts. Make sure the heat is low, you don’t want to burn the butter. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the flour, better when it is sifted. At this point, bring the saucepan back on the stove and mix with the whisk for the flour to combine well with the butter and cook until lightly brown. Now pour in the milk and continue mixing with the whisk to make sure there are no lumps. Add the nutmeg powder or grate the nut directly in the saucepan. Mix again and continue to pour in the milk gradually until it’s finished. Add the pepper and the salt and let it simmer on low heat for a couple of minutes. It’s done! the homemade bechamel sauce is done, and it is absolutely delicious, give it a try.

How to cook the skillet turkey lasagna?

Now that the bechamel sauce is ready, set it aside and prepare the meaty base. For this cooking step, you will need a skillet, one that can be inserted into the oven as well.

Peel and mince some onion and garlic. Heat the skillet and add 3-4 tbsp of olive oil to it. Transfer the onions and the garlic to the skillet and saute on medium heat until translucent. Now add in the minced turkey meat and crush it into the smallest pieces using a wooden or silicone spatula. Pour the tomato paste and mix again. Mix as often as you can and spice up the meat with spices like dried oregano, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and ground pepper. If you like hot dishes, sprinkle a few chili flakes into the skillet.

Now that the meat is halfway done, add in the pasta. Choose pasta with shapes that can retain the sauce, opt for fusilli, penne, or shells. Avoid pasta such as spaghetti or tagliatelle. Pour water or vegetable broth so to cover the pasta and meat mixture. Cover the soon-to-be skillet turkey lasagna with a lid, and let it cook for as much as the pasta instructions say.

Now it’s the right time to preheat the oven at 350 degrees for about 10-15 minutes prior to inserting the skillet. When the pasta becomes al dente, turn off the stove remove the lid. Pour the homemade bechamel sauce all over the skillet content but do not stir. Finally, sprinkle everything with tons of parmesan and grated mozzarella.

How to bake the skillet turkey lasagna?

Bake the lasagna in a preheated oven to 360 degrees for 20 minutes. It is the needed time for the cheese to melt and for the sauce to perfectly combine with the meaty sauce and pasta. When the baking time expired, remove the skillet turkey lasagna from the oven and let it rest for about 10-15 minutes before serving.

How to serve the skillet turkey lasagna?

Serve the creamy, mind-blowingly tasty lasagna as it is. You may accompany it with a fresh tomato arugula salad or with feta cheese salad. Don’t miss indulging the skillet turkey lasagna with a good glass of dry red wine. Enjoy each and every bite!