This vegetarian lasagna recipe is my favorite dish to make for family and friends! Filled with savory roasted vegetables, it's healthy and delicious.
Vegetarian lasagna was the first big dinner I learned how to make. When I was in college, a vegetable lasagna would always be the main event when I cooked a meal for a group. Fast forward to now, and I still like to make one when I’m serving a crowd, especially around the holidays. A veggie lasagna is comforting, flavorful, and great for making ahead. Plus, who doesn’t love to swap stories at the table over red sauce and pasta?!
I’m sharing my favorite vegetarian lasagna recipe below. It’s savory and satisfying, filled with roasted veggies, creamy ricotta cheese, ruffly noodles, and plenty of marinara sauce. I think you’re going to love it!
How to Make Vegetable Lasagna
My vegetarian lasagna recipe starts with these ingredients:
Vegetarian Lasagna Ingredients
- Fresh veggies, of course! I pack this vegetable lasagna with roasted red bell peppers, zucchini, onions, mushrooms, and baby spinach. They add SO much flavor.
- Lasagna noodles – No-boil noodles seem convenient—but trust me, the regular kind are better. They take less than 10 minutes to cook, and they have a perfect tender texture in the final lasagna.
- Marinara sauce – Make homemade marinara sauce, or use a 24-ounce jar of store-bought sauce. I like Rao’s.
- Ricotta cheese – It creates a creamy, cheesy layer between the noodles, sauce, and veggies. I season it with garlic and lemon zest for bright, savory flavor.
- Shredded pecorino and mozzarella cheese – For topping the lasagna. Not a pecorino person? Parmesan cheese works too!
- And fresh basil and/or parsley – For garnish.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Before you assemble the lasagna, complete these 3 prep steps:
- Roast the veggies. Toss the peppers, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake at 425°F until they’re tender and caramelized.
- Boil the noodles until al dente. Toss them with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking!
- Make the ricotta filling. Mix the ricotta cheese with the lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper.
You’re ready to layer!
How to Layer Vegetable Lasagna
Start with a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom.
- Then, add a layer of noodles.
- Top the noodles with half the ricotta mixture.
- Layer half the spinach over the ricotta, and scatter half the roasted vegetables in an even layer.
- Dot the vegetables with 2/3 cup of the marinara sauce.
Repeat the layering process in the same order:
- Noodles
- Ricotta
- Spinach + roasted veggies
- 2/3 cup marinara sauce
Top with a final layer of noodles, the remaining sauce, and the shredded cheese.
That’s it!
How Long to Bake Vegetarian Lasagna
If using fully cooked lasagna noodles: Bake uncovered at 400°F for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
If using no-boil lasagna noodles: Cover the veggie lasagna with aluminum foil. Bake at 400°F for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
Let the vegetable lasagna stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before slicing and serving.
Variation
To make vegan lasagna: Replace the ricotta mixture with this vegan ricotta. Skip the cheese on top of the lasagna. Bake, covered, until the pasta is tender and the lasagna is heated through, 30 to 50 minutes at 400°F.
What to Serve with Vegetarian Lasagna
This vegetable lasagna recipe is a satisfying meal on its own, but it pairs well with all sorts of side dishes, too!
Serve it with a salad, such as
- this green salad,
- this kale Caesar salad,
- or this chopped salad.
Or pair it with a veggie side dish like
You also can’t go wrong with garlic knots or garlic bread!
Storage and Freezing Instructions
Leftover vegetarian lasagna keeps well in an airtight container or covered dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in the microwave or a 350°F oven.
To freeze vegetable lasagna: Assemble the lasagna in the baking dish. Cover tightly with foil and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to defrost overnight in the fridge before baking. When ready to serve, bake, covered, for 20 minutes at 400°F. Uncover and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the lasagna is heated through.
More Veggie Comfort Food Recipes
If you love this vegetarian lasagna, try one of these veggie comfort food recipes next:
Best Vegetarian Lasagna
Equipment
Ingredients
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
- 1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 medium zucchini, cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½ medium yellow onion, cut into ½-inch pieces
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 15 lasagna noodles*
- 3 cups marinara sauce, 24 ounces
- 3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups grated low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated pecorino cheese
- Fresh basil leaves or chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Ricotta Filling
- 3 cups whole milk ricotta cheese, 24 ounces
- 3 garlic cloves, grated
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Oil a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Place the mushrooms, red pepper, zucchini, and onion on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Spread evenly on the baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until tender and browned around the edges. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F.
- Meanwhile, cook the noodles.* Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and prepare the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions, cooking until al dente. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Make the ricotta filling: In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, garlic, lemon zest, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
- Assemble the lasagna. Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce at the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles, followed by half the ricotta mixture. Spread the ricotta in an even layer, then arrange half the spinach evenly on top. Top with half the vegetables and dot with â…” cup of the remaining marinara sauce.Â
- Repeat with another layer of noodles, followed by the remaining ricotta, spinach, vegetables, and another â…” cup sauce. Top with the remaining noodles.
- Spread the remaining ⅔ cup marinara over the pasta, then evenly sprinkle with the mozzarella and pecorino cheeses. Bake in the 400°F oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbling. Let stand for 20 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil or parsley, slicing, and serving.
Notes
- No-boil noodles tend to be shorter than regular lasagna noodles. Instead of counting noodles, expect to use about ¾ of a 1-pound box.
- Change the bake time: Cover the lasagna and bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the noodles are tender, then uncover and bake until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
I’m going to have to make as I haven’t made veggie lasagna in a while!
I saw your notes on freezing, but do you think I could bake an entire pan and then freeze the remaining lasagna that we don’t eat, but after it’s already cooked?
Does it freeze well? Would I cook then freeze? Or prepare and freeze then cook?
Can you add spinach?
yep!
Has anyone tried this with cottage cheese instead of ricotta or a mix of the two?
Hi John, I think a mix of the two would be great.
Fantastic! Stayed true to the recipe except I add some bottled roasted red peppers I had in the fridge and wanted to use up. Highly recommend this dish. I was fantastic and we didn’t miss the meat.
I would like to serve the Vegetable Lasagna for Christmas dinner . Can I make it the day before? And if so, how long to bake?
Hi Marilyn, yes assemble it the day before, cover and chill it overnight. Bake it according to the recipe instructions, you might have to bake it just a few minutes more since it’ll start out cold. Just check that it’s warmed through and the cheese is browning on top.