Crispy, smoky lentils on top of lasagna noodles in a creamy sauce make this smoky skillet lasagna totally addictive.
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This is a simple weeknight skillet lasagna with creamy, smoky sauce topped with lentils that have been crisped up in a skillet and coated with spices, soy sauce, and maple syrup to give them an incredible, bacon-like flavor. They make an amazing topping on this creamy pasta! And everything is cooked in just 1 Skillet!
You can make a big batch of these smoky lentils and use them over pastas, salads, bowls, and whatever other dishes you like.
I love skillet meals! Try my various skillet pastas and lasagnas and my skillet enchilada.
Why You’ll Love Smoky Skillet Lasagna
- crispy lentils have rich, bacon-y flavor
- creamy pasta with a delicious sauce
- one-pot meal
- ready in under an hour
- nut-free with gluten-free and soy-free options
More Vegan Skillet Lasagna Recipes
- Meaty Vegan Skillet Lasagna
- French Onion Skillet Lasagna
- Vegan Pesto Skillet Lasagna
- Spinach Alfredo Skillet lasagna
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Smoky Skillet Lasagna with Crispy Lentils
Ingredients
For the crispy lentils:
- ¾ cup (148.5 g) cooked brown lentils or canned drained
- 2 teaspoons oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
For the pasta:
- 1 teaspoon oil
- ½ cup (80 g) chopped onion
- 3 to 4 ounces (85.05 g) of sliced mushrooms
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons Italian herbs
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour or use gluten-free flour
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup (236.59 ml) water or broth
- 15 ounce (425.24 ml) can full fat coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 7 no-boil lasagna sheets, or Use 5 regular lasagna sheets, broken up. Or use about 5 ounces of pasta of choice.
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 3 tablespoons vegan parmesan
- ½ cup (78 g) frozen spinach thawed
For garnish:
- more vegan parmesan, black pepper, fresh herbs such as basil, oregano
Instructions
Make the crispy lentils.
- Drain the cooked lentils, let them drain for at least 15 minutes before using, so that any excess moisture dries out. You can drain it in a strainer, and then put some paper towels under the strainer to absorb any excess moisture.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and then add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the lentils to the skillet and spread them out evenly and let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Then, stir or flip and continue to cook them until they start to get puffy and start to crisp up on some of the edges. This can take anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes, depending on your skillet and the stove.
- Once the lentils are starting to get puffy, brown and crispy on the edges, add in the soy sauce, maple syrup, and the spices, tossing to coat the lentils really well. Continue to cook the lentils to crisp them up a bit more, another 2 minutes or so. Taste and adjust flavor, add a bit of salt, if needed, (add a few drops of liquid smoke for extra smokyness) then remove the lentils from the skillet.
Make the pasta:
- Add the teaspoon of oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushroom, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well, and continue cook until the onion starts to turn translucent. 3-4 mins. Then, add in all of the dry spices and herbs and the flour and mix, then cook for a minute, then mix in the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and half the water. Mix really well, so that all of the flour mixes in and there are no lumps. Then, add in the coconut milk, nutritional yeast, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix in and bring to a boil.
- Add the broken up lasagna sheets to the skillet, remaining water, and mix and press the lasagna sheet pieces into the mixture.
- Cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes. Stir once in between to make sure that the sheets are not sticking to the bottom. If the pasta needs more liquid, then add in another ½ to 1 cup of hot water.
- Once the lasagna noodles are cooked to preference, add in the pepper flakes, vegan parmesan, and spinach and mix in. Cover the lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes or so, then turn off the heat.
- Then, let the skillet sit for a few minutes, open the lid, and either or transfer the lasagna into serving bowls and top those bowls with the crispy lentils or top the skillet itself with the crispy lentils and some fresh herbs, black pepper, and more vegan parmesan, and serve.
- Store: refrigerate for upto 3 days. Store the lentils separately so that they don’t absorb too much moisture from the lasagna. Reheat in the microwave or skillet
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Ingredients and Substitutions
- lentils – Cooked or canned brown lentils cook up crispy in the skillet.
- bacon seasoning – Soy sauce, maple syrup, onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika give the lentils a bacon-like flavor that’s so delicious on this smoky skillet lasagna!
- oil – To sauté.
- onion and mushrooms – For umami and texture.
- dried herbs and spices – Onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, Italian herbs, and crushed red pepper give the sauce a smoky, rich flavor.
- flour – To thicken the sauce. You can use gluten-free flour, if needed.
- soy sauce – Adds umami and saltiness to the sauce. Use tamari for gluten-free.
- balsamic vinegar – Adds a hint of sweet and tang to the sauce that’s so good with the smoky flavors!
- coconut milk – For creaminess. You can use cashew cream instead for coconut-free.
- nutritional yeast – Gives the sauce a cheesy flavor and helps thicken it even more.
- lasagna sheets – No boil or regular, Broken up lasagna sheets are your pasta. You can use regular or gluten-free lasagna sheets. You can also use other pasta, if you like.
- vegan parmesan – Gives the sauce creaminess and a great flavor!
- frozen spinach, thawed – For some green veggie action!
Tips
- Measure all of your ingredients out while the lentils drain to save time cooking.
- Double or triple the lentils, so you’ll have extra to top other dishes. You’ll be glad you did!
- Make sure the pan has plenty of liquid, so you can submerge the pasta sheets. Add more liquid when you stop to stir, if needed.
How to Make Smoky Skillet Lasagna with Crispy Lentils
First, let’s make the crispy lentils.
Drain the cooked lentils, let them drain for at least 15 minutes before using, so that any excess moisture dries out. You can drain it in a strainer, and then put some paper towels under the strainer to absorb any excess moisture.
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and then add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the lentils to the skillet and spread them out evenly and let them cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
Stir or flip and continue to cook them until they start to get puffy and start to crisp up on some of the edges. This can take anywhere from 5 to 8 minutes, depending on your skillet and the stove.
Once the lentils are starting to get golden brown, puffy and crispy on the edges, add in the soy sauce, maple syrup, and the spices, tossing to coat the lentils really well. Continue to cook the lentils to crisp them up a bit more, another 2 minutes or so. Taste and adjust flavor, add a bit of salt, if needed, and then remove the lentils from the skillet.
Now, make the pasta.
Add the teaspoon of oil to the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushroom, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix well, and continue cook until the onion starts to turn translucent. 3-4 mins
Add in all of the dry spices and herbs and the flour and mix, then cook for a minute, then mix in the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and half of the water. Mix really well, so that all of the flour mixes in and there are no lumps.
Then, add in the coconut milk, nutritional yeast, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt. Mix in and bring to a boil.
Add the broken up lasagna sheets to the skillet, along with remaining half ( ½ cup) of water, and mix and press the lasagna sheet pieces into the mixture.
Cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes. Stir once in between to make sure that the sheets are not sticking to the bottom. If it the pasta needs more liquid and the sauce is drying out, then add in another ½ to 1 cup of hot water.
Once the lasagna noodles are cooked to preference, add in the pepper flakes, vegan parmesan, and spinach and mix in. Cover the lid, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes or so, then turn off the heat.
Then, let the skillet sit for a few minutes, open the lid, and either or transfer the lasagna into serving bowls and top those bowls with the crispy lentils or top the skillet itself with the crispy lentils and some fresh herbs, black pepper, and more vegan parmesan, and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
This recipe is nut-free.
If you don’t want to use coconut milk, you can use other non-dairy cream. I like to use cashew cream, which makes it super creamy: blend ½ cup of cashews with ¾ cups of water and use. Add 2 cups water/broth to cook the pasta and add cashew cream once the pasta is cooked, along with parm and spinach. Mix and bring to boil.
This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free lasagna noodles or other gluten-free pasta, tamari instead of soy sauce, and gluten-free flour.
To make this recipe soy-free, omit the soy sauce.
Skillet lasagna is a one-pan meal where you cook lasagna noodles and sauce all together in a skillet, rather than as a casserole. It’s usually quicker and easier than making a traditional lasagna.
Mandy R
I made this for dinner tonight and it was so delicious! I am the only vegan at our house but the whole family loved it – even our picky eater. My husband requested this be added to the regular dinner rotation as well. 😀 I followed the recipe as is. The only thing I would do differently next time is trying canned lentils. I cooked some dry ones I already had on hand but overcooked them before using them in this recipe. So they were a little mushy when I tried crisping them in the skillet. But they still tasted good. I just don’t think they had the right texture.
Richa
Yay! Yes you need al dente lentils. Canned work best, or if you cook at home , use the heartier black lentils and cook them to just about done
Wendy
This was so good! The flavourful sauce and the delicious lentils were a winning combination! Thank you.
Vegan Richa Support
yay! thank you!
Melany
It was a lot of steps but totally worth it and so delicious. The noodles did stick after adding water but next time I will be stirring it more often! Thanks for another tasty recipe!
Richa
Awesome! Add a bit more liquid and yea stir often (depends on the pan)
Ali
What a great dish! I followed the recipe almost verbatim, with the only change being the addition of another pasta shape to round out my few lasagna sheets.
I thought the coconut milk would be unusual with the Italian herbs, and I almost subbed cashew cream, but the result was so delicious. Savoury, creamy, smoky and utterly wonderful! I couldn’t detect any coconut flavour.
Although their flavour was great, my lentils weren’t crispy. I think it might be because my skillet was too small. What do you think, Richa?
Richa
Probably the smaller skillet or a beet for longer cook time based on yum our pan or stove. Just keep crisping them for longer
Lesley
This rating is for the crispy bacon lentils. I needed a quick topping for vegan Mac n Cheeze. Canned organic lentils made the perfect double batch portion. Delicious! Glad there are extras to sprinkle on salad & baked sweet potatoes.
Watch carefully at the end, so the lentils don’t burn.
Will be making these yummy lentils again with the lasagna.
Vegan Richa Support
yay! thank you so much
Megan
This was so delicious and will now be in my regular recipe rotation! I loved the cashew cream sub listed at the bottom of the recipe. It worked out great! Can’t wait to make this again.
Vegan Richa Support
yay! thank you
Shelley
This was soooo delicious! I love how the mushrooms soaked up the sauce… and the crispy lentils, yum!
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yay! thank you
Kia
I made this tonight using green lentils instead of brown, as brown lentils are not easily avaliable here. I used dry, beacuse that was what I had. Also only had dry whole grain lasagna sheets.
I turned down the content of cream in the dish and used some canned crushed tomato and tomato paste, beacuse I feel sick if the dish is is too rich.
Even I adapted it slightly, luckily I’m a decent home cook, it turned out great – and I have leftovers for tomorrow.
Shared the recipe with a friend, whom I know will love it.
Vegan Richa Support
thank you! so glad you enjoyed
Ida
Absolutely phenomenal! I used cashew cream in place of the coconut milk but followed the recipe otherwise. So satisfying and flavors are spot-on perfect! 😋
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yay! thank you!
Swan 🦢
This looks beyond delicious, and hearty as well. That’s amazing how you’ve flavored and crisp the lentils in a bacon bites kind of way. (Without victimizing an animal of course) This lasagna recipe is outstanding, much appreciated Chef.
Vegan Richa Support
thank you!
Tash
Tried this recipe tonight. So much flavour. I used dried lasagne sheets. Super easy and delicious. It actually looks just like the photo. Thanks so much.
Richa
Awesome!!
Linda
I made this recipe for dinner tonight. It was amazing! Such a delicious flavour to it all. I had a couple different vegetables as sides and this meal was something I wish was available in a fine restaurant when I go out! I find all of Richa’s recipes have worked for me and are always flavourful and delicious!
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yay!
GABRIELLE OTTAVIO
Delicious and so easy. Love the easy clean up. The only thing is that the recipe says it serves 4 but it only served the two if us since it was so good ❤️
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yay!
Marg
Can I use canned lentils?
Richa
Yes! Just drain well and use
Sunita Maharaj-Vidal
Sorry for the autocorrect… meant red Masoor dal!!!
Richa
Yes you can use sabut (whole) Masoor or split too. Cook till aldente( ie not mushy), drain and use
Sunita Maharaj-Vidal
sounds like something i will make for sure. Can red man Asiir dals be used instead of just the brown lentils?
Josee
This recipe looks amazing and is begging me to make it. 😄 The recipe calls for no boil lasagna. Is it possible to modify if I do have need-to-boil noodles? I have some that were broken when bought and I could not use for a previous recipe. This would be a perfect recipe to use them up. Thanks for sending all of the amazing recipes to my inbox. 💕
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thank you for trying them!