Do you ever have those weeks when you are just NOT MOTIVATED to do anything??? You have this big to-do list, but you would really rather just grab a pint of ice cream, sit down on the couch, and binge watch The Office until it’s time to go to bed? Myyyyyy liiiife these past few weeks.
It’s a weird phase, though, because I am totally fine while I’m at work – productive, energized, into it. It’s when I get home that I’m like…nahhhhh, I’m good. Ima just chill. Isn’t that strange? Maybe it’s not that strange. I just feel like it takes so much energy to actually force myself to do the things I need to do when I get home from work. Like work out, clean (CLEAAANNN), do laundry (laundry…???), take the dogs out, etc…
So what ends up happening? I just basically just don’t do some of this stuff. Some of it I’ll suck it up and do, but some of it – i.e. cleaning and laundry – I’m just like “It’s probs fine for another day.” And then guess what happens? The “day” turns into a week, and I have to climb over laundry to blow dry my hair and put makeup on. BLAARRFFFGGGG << my exasperated noise.
I have a theory as to why this is happening to me right now…
Seth is coming home in a month. ONE MONTH! Uno montho (<< what 10 years of Spanish class got me, whatuupppp). Isn’t that craziness?? Anyway, when Seth is home, he helps me so much with all this stuff. When the house gets messy, we clean it together. When the dogs need to go out, we switch off or do it together. When I cook, he cleans the kitchen. Our marriage definitely isn’t the “woman cooks and cleans, man brings home the bacon” situation (zero judgement, of course, if that is your marriage – it’s not better or worse, just different). He helps out just as much as I do with that kind of stuff. Well, not the cooking. But that’s just because I’m obsessed with cooking. GASP coming from the person who is a career food blogger.
Anyyyywho, I feel like since his homecoming is SO SOON, I’m starting to get antsy doing all this stuff by myself. Before, I knew it was months and months until he came home, so my mind was in “Get over it – let’s be a boss and get this stuff done” mode. And now it’s in “Oh my gosh, so close to having help again” mode and “Don’t want to dooooo allllll of this myself anymmooorreee” mode. Can we take a second to observe how whiny I’m being? I am fully aware of this, and you should be fully aware that I am using you, lovely readers, as an outlet to be whiny. Apologies. I shall stop now.
You know what I need during a tiring time like this? And what you need during your exhausting days? And your busy weeks? THISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
It’s like lasagna. But it’s healthy. Allow me to repeat what I just said. IT’S LIKE LASAGNA, BUT IT’S HEALTHY. Yes. Healthy lasagna. Cue the music that plays when your dreams come true.
So, how is this anything like lasagna, you may ask? Well, I will tell you. It has every single thing that a wonderful, gooey, cheesy, decadent lasagna has, except throw those lasagna noodles away (HA – not really, just put them back into your pantry for later), and get out that brown rice.
Just like lasagna, you make a meat sauce (with an easy shortcut [more on that later]). Just like lasagna, you add mozzarella and ricotta. Unlike lasagna, you don’t have to spend a good twenty minutes assembling. Unlike lasagna, you don’t have to bake it for a million hours. Unlike lasagna, you have super healthy brown rice instead of those pasta noodles.
The result? A cheesy, meaty, saucy, satisfying, deeee-licoius bowl of yumminess. Let’s talk about the details here:
- The sauce – you start by browning turkey sausage in a little bit of olive oil. Remove that to a plate and try not to eat half of it while the veggies cook. Throw your onions and garlic in the same pan and cook for a few minutes. Add the sausage back in. Then (here comes the shortcut) add a few cups of jarred marinara sauce. AHHHHH. It’s okay for food bloggers to use jarred and canned ingredients right? We’re going to go wiiiittthhh…yes. Throw some Italian spices in there and simmer for about ten minutes. So really what you are doing is taking jarred marinara sauce and amping that goodness up with your other ingredients. The result? Marinara on fleek.
- The brown rice – I use the quick cooking stuff because I like quick and easy meals. And legit brown rice takes approximately…hmm…FOREVER. Really it’s like 45 minutes, but come on…that’s a while. Once I tried the quick stuff, I was hooked. If you aren’t a fan, go legit and use the “real” brown rice. A tip here – cook the rice in chicken or veggie stock if you have it. The stock adds extra flavor to your rice, meaning extra flavor in your finished lasagna skillet.
- The cheese – mozzarella. Ricotta. Heaven. Have you guys noticed how gooey and stringy mozzarella gets when it melts??? I LOVE THAT. It’s one of my favorite cheeses to use just because of its meltability (word? It is now).
- The topping – sliced basil. Simple, but adds a delicious note of freshness that I think is very necessary!
And that’s it, people. Super simple, quick, and healthy. Who doesn’t want to indulge in lasagna and feel awesome afterwards?? No one. The correct answer is no one.
Have a fantastic week, friends!
For you 21 Day Fix people, here are your container amounts:
- 1 yellow container (rice)
- 1 red container (sausage)
- 1 blue container (cheeeessseee)
- 1/4 green container (onions)
- 1/2 purple container (marinara)
- 1 teaspoon (olive oil)
*The seasonings and basil are “free”*
Click here to see more 21 Day Fix recipes!
PrintBrown Rice Lasagna Skillet

- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 30 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 2 cups COOKED brown rice (I use the quick cooking kind – cook in chicken or veggie stock if you have it)
- 1 pound Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 large onion (1 heaping cup diced)
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups jarred marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 cup shredded low fat mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup low fat ricotta cheese
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- Basil leaves, sliced (for topping at the end)
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium high/high heat, add 2 teaspoons of olive oil
- Add your turkey sausage, removed from their casings. Season with salt and pepper, break up into small pieces with a spoon, and brown. Once browned, remove to a plate and set aside
- In the same pan, add 2 more teaspoons of olive oil and your onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper
- Cook for a few minutes until onions have softened
- Add your turkey sausage back in with the veggies, and season with your oregano and Italian seasoning. Stir together until combined
- Add your marinara sauce
- Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes
- Season to taste with salt and pepper
- Add your rice (make sure your rice is seasoned with salt and pepper – if your rice is bland, your whole dish will turn out slightly bland) and stir until fully combined
- In this next step, you can do one of two things: 1. Add your ricotta and mozzarella, stir together until combined, and serve just like that. 2. Sprinkle your mozzarella on top, broil in the oven for a few minutes until melted, pull out of the oven, and add dollops of ricotta cheese before serving. Both will end up tasting the same – the second option just looks prettier!
- Serve with sliced basil sprinkled over top
*Nutrition information may vary based on what brand of marinara sauce you use – my brand was around 100 calories per 1/2 cup*
This recipe is gluten free
If you make this or any of my other recipes, be sure to Instagram it and hashtag #thegarlicdiaries!
In the mood for more easy, healthy comfort food recipes for those busy weeks? Check these out:
Cheddar and Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Roasted Veggie Bowls with Sweet Onion Sauce [21 Day Fix]
Made this tonight, was soo good
★★★★★
So glad you liked it Amanda! Thanks for the comment!
Do you have the container count for this recipe?
Should be right above the recipe!
Made this tonight and OMG! Delish! I couldn’t find Italian turkey sausage but found Italian chicken sausage (precooked) so sliced it into little pieces and it was a huge hit with my family! Definitely making this again! Thanks for a wonderful recipe!
Yay! So glad this turned out well for you and that your family loved it!!
Family fave already, and this was our first try! I added chopped black olives for a little more oomph, but I am pleased to say this was a solid win!
★★★★★
Is Italian turkey sausage easy to find? I’ve never heard of it. My stores are pretty limited in things like that. What would you suggest I use instead – maybe just ground beef?
I have it in my grocery stores, but maybe it’s not common in other areas! Ground turkey would be the best substitute if you can find that. Or regular pork sausage instead of turkey.
Soooo good! I’m not doing the 21 day fix but dislike making lasagna so I decided to try this recipe. I didn’t have ricotta so I substituted 1/3 c plain Greek yogurt and it’s so, so yummy!! Husband and kid approved!
I made this recipe exactly as you instructed, and it was AMAZING! Better yet – it was a huge hit with my entire family, including my husband (who is also doing the 21DF) and my 5-year-old twin boys. I have never been a fan of the heaviness of traditional lasagna, but by using the brown rice instead, it pulled all of the ingredients together to make it all so… so… scrumptious!
Thank you *so much* for your fantastic recipes, your insight, your wonderful sense of humor and your narratives. You have a new fan in me! I’m now going to make your Cauliflower Cheesy Bread and Coconut Shrimp recipes next. :)
★★★★★
Oops – the Cauliflower Bread isn’t yours… bus could have been, because it looks so nummy! :)
Maybe I’ll add that to my list of must-make recipes ;). It does sound tasty!
This comment totally made my night, Laura!! Thank you so much for the kind words, I am SO happy the lasagna turned out so well for you and your family!
I am in week 3 of the 21df, and I was starting to lose my momentum, because I couldn’t figure out interesting recipes to try to keep it from feeling like a chore. YOU completely saved the program for me. Thank you so much, Annie!
That makes me so happy, Laura! I love that these recipes are making the 21 DF easier for you. Keep it up!!
Pinned! Because I’ve been having non-stop weeks like that… I think I’ll get SO much done when I get home from work, and then I sit on the couch and zone out. This would at least get me off my butt to cook!
Yes, EXACTLY. Just sit on the couch and zone out – well said :). Thanks, Sue!