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Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

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Zucchini Lasagna - gluten-free and grain-free
Wellness Mama » Blog » Recipes » Beef Recipes » Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

Are you grain free now, but sometimes wish you could indulge in a pasta dish without the insulin spike and “brick in the stomach” feeling? My husband had been requesting pasta for a long time, and I’ve been meaning to experiment with a good grain-free lasagna recipe. Thanks to reader Desiree for the inspiration!

I never liked pasta much, even when we ate grains, so, to be honest, I didn’t have high hopes for this! I even used frozen zucchini that we had from last year’s garden, so I wasn’t sure the texture would be great… but to my surprise, it turned out excellent. In my (non-Italian) opinion, it was better than regular lasagna! Even if you aren’t grain-free, this is an easy way to get some extra vegetables in a meal, and it was definitely kid-approved!

Zucchini Lasagna - gluten-free and grain-free

Zucchini Lasagna Recipe (Gluten Free)

A gluten-free, veggie based version of the classic lasagna with zucchini instead of noodles. Delicious and healthy!
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Calories 432kcal
Author Katie Wells

Servings

10 servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Thinly slice zucchini lengthwise into ¼ inch slices.
  • Place on well-oiled baking sheet and bake at 400°F for about 10-12 minutes or until the zucchini is just starting to brown and get tender. It isn’t necessary to peel the zucchini, but it might be a good idea if you are trying to hide the vegetables from any picky eaters!
  • While the zucchini is cooking, brown the meat in a large skillet.
  • Once the meat is cooked, add the pasta sauce to the skillet to warm if there is room. If not, add meat and pasta sauce to large pot.
  • Add spices to meat sauce and heat to a simmer.
  • In a medium size bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan, and half of the shredded  mozzarella cheese.
  • In large 9×13 glass baking dish start layering: meat sauce on the bottom, followed by zucchini slices, then ricotta mixture. This made 2 thick layers for me, but could be spread out into three layers if your dish is deep enough. Make sure the meat/sauce layer is on the top when done.
  • If you are making ahead, throw the dish in the freezer at this point, and it will be ready to bake when you need it.
  • When you have added all ingredients in layers, place the lasagna in oven at 350°F for 45-60 minutes or until egg/ricotta mixture is set and middle is not jiggly. It will firm up as it cools too.
  • Top with the remaining half of the mozzarella for the last 15 minutes of cooking.
  • Serve immediately. I recommend a side of Italian music and a salad!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Zucchini Lasagna Recipe (Gluten Free)
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 432 Calories from Fat 178
% Daily Value*
Fat 19.8g30%
Saturated Fat 9.3g58%
Cholesterol 208mg69%
Sodium 861mg37%
Carbohydrates 28.3g9%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 14.4g16%
Protein 34.4g69%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Notes

Adjust types and quantities of the spices to fit your family’s tastes.
This dish freezes beautifully, so make a double batch and freeze a pan for another night. Simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator and don’t top with mozzarella until last 15 minutes of cooking. 

Like this recipe? Check out my new cookbook, or get all my recipes (over 500!) in a personalized weekly meal planner here!

Desiree has another variation of this recipe that I’m looking forward to trying. I couldn’t this time because my zucchini was pre-sliced and frozen, but her recipe seems easier! Desiree shared her recipe:

It’s very easy! For a 9 x 13 pan: Mix 2 cups shredded zucchini or summer squash or riced cauliflower with 2 eggs and 2 cups shredded cheese. Then just use your favorite lasagna recipe, adding at least one egg to the ricotta mixture (I used 2) and in place of the noodles smoosh in a layer of the veggie/egg/cheese mixture. Cover loosely with foil. Bake at 325 until just set (not wobbly when you shake the pan). It takes about an hour or so. Because it takes so long, I’d recommend making your top layer sauce and adding shredded cheese towards the end of cooking, otherwise it will be very dark. It holds up beautifully, no slippery noodles to collapse and tastes amazing!

Ever cooked Italian food without the grains? How did it turn out? Share your recipe below!

Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

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