Zucchini Lasagna

This zucchini lasagna recipe is packed with vegetables! I blend zucchini into the creamy filling and layer zucchini planks into the lasagna itself.

Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

I shared this zucchini lasagna recipe in my first cookbook, but I loved it so much that I had to share it here too! If you’re looking for a fresher spin on the classic comfort food, you have to try this recipe.

My Favorite Zucchini Lasagna Recipe

This zucchini lasagna is a low-carb, gluten-free, extra-veggie twist on traditional lasagna. It’s totally vegetarian, so you won’t find any meat sauce, ground beef, or ground turkey here.

Instead, this lasagna is seriously packed with zucchini. I use it in two ways in this recipe:

  1. First off, thin zucchini slices replace half of the regular lasagna noodles.
  2. I also blend zucchini into the “ricotta” filling. That’s right! I don’t actually use any ricotta cheese in this recipe. Instead, zucchini, walnuts, tofu, lemon juice, and spices blend together to create a thick, creamy ricotta-like filling.

The result is just as tasty as a traditional lasagna, but far fresher. It’s a perfect meal for zucchini season!

Spreading tomato sauce in casserole dish

How to Make Zucchini Lasagna Less Watery

Zucchini is famously packed with moisture. That’s why we love it in zucchini muffins and zucchini bread!

But in zucchini lasagna, all that moisture can be challenging. If you’ve ever made zucchini lasagna before, you might know that it can easily turn out watery.

Here’s how I control the moisture in this zucchini lasagna recipe:

  1. I use some regular noodles. Instead of making this recipe entirely with zucchini noodles, I use some brown rice pasta. It soaks up some of the moisture from the zucchini.
  2. I use diced tomatoes instead of marinara sauce to add less moisture.
  3. I let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes after baking. The resting time gives the pasta a chance to absorb liquid that the zucchini releases while baking, resulting in a cleaner slice.

Layering lasagna in baking dish

How to Make Zucchini Lasagna

You can find the complete zucchini lasagna recipe with measurements at the bottom of this post. For now, here’s an overview of how it goes:

First, make the “ricotta” filling. You’ll blend some chopped zucchini in a food processor with walnuts, garlic, tofu, lemon juice, oregano, red pepper flakes, and basil until the mixture is thick and creamy.

Next, prep the noodles. Cook the regular lasagna noodles (I use gluten-free brown rice ones) according to the package instructions. Use a sharp knife to slice the zucchini lengthwise into thin planks.

Assembling zucchini lasagna

Then, assemble the lasagna. Spread a third of the tomatoes at the bottom of a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Top them with half the noodles, followed by half the ricotta mixture and half the zucchini.

Repeat the layers, topping the lasagna with the remaining tomatoes and grated pecorino cheese.

Finally, bake the lasagna. Cover it with foil and bake for 15 minutes at 375°F. Then, uncover it and bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is bubbling.

Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Variations

  • Make it vegan. Skip the cheese on top, or top the lasagna with your favorite shredded vegan cheese.
  • Make it cheesier. If you love cheese, use 1 1/2 cups pecorino instead of 1. Feel free to mix in Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese too!

Zucchini Lasagna recipe

More Favorite Zucchini Recipes

If you love this zucchini lasagna, try one of these zucchini recipes next:


5.0 from 14 reviews

Zucchini Lasagna

 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
This zucchini lasagna recipe uses zucchini two ways! I blend it into the creamy filling and layer zucchini planks into the lasagna itself.
Author:
Recipe type: Main dish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
Zucchini Tofu Ricotta: (can be made ahead)
  • ¼ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 7 ounces extra-firm tofu
  • ½ cup chopped zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup chopped fresh basil
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper
For the Lasagna:
  • 5 ounces brown rice lasagna noodles
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
  • 2 zucchini, sliced into thin planks
  • 1 cup grated pecorino cheese
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Make the Zucchini Tofu Ricotta: In a food processor, combine the walnuts, garlic, tofu, chopped zucchini, lemon juice, oregano, red pepper flakes, basil, salt and pepper and process to a spreadable consistency. Add more salt and pepper as desired.
  3. Prepare the pasta according to the instructions on the package, cooking until al dente.
  4. Assemble the lasagne: Drizzle a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil, then layer ingredients as follows:
  5. First layer: ⅓ tomatoes, ½ noodles, ½ ricotta, ½ zucchini
  6. Second layer: ⅓ tomatoes, ½ noodles, ½ ricotta, ½ zucchini
  7. Top with the remaining ⅓ tomatoes. Sprinkle with the grated cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
  8. Bake covered for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes more, or until the zucchini is tender, but still has a bite, and the tomatoes and cheese are bubbling. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Season with freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
To make this vegan, use vegan cheese, or skip the cheese on top. If you skip the cheese, you may want to season the lasagna a bit more salt and pepper.

 

43 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. i loved ur recipe ,em a foodie .yummyy
    i also love cooking my favourite recipe em sharing with you chilli potatoes recipe

  2. Guerry
    09.10.2017

    Bonjour,
    En français s’il vous plait c’est possible ?
    Merci

  3. Alycia
    09.09.2017

    I made this exactly as is (minus the cheese) and just sprinkled a little vegan parmesan on top. It was delicious and super easy!! My boyfriend and I enjoy this with a salad, some fresh rosemary bread and wine. Perfect for a nice dinner – I’ll definitely be making this again.

    PS – love your cookbook by the way!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.09.2017

      So glad you both enjoyed it!!

  4. Joanne
    09.08.2017

    Wow, this was delicious! Used Kite Hill Almond Milk Ricotta and some Kite Hill Almond Milk Yogurt to replace the tofu ricotta, yellow squash instead of zucchini and a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes. Super simple, will definitely try making this with the tofu, zucchini and fire roasted tomatoes next time!

  5. Sabrina Best
    09.07.2017

    what a wonderfully “lightened” lasagna recipe! Love how even the ricotta is slimmed down and “moisturized” with extra zucchini, even nice with brown rice lasagna noodles, thank you for this “reconstruction”!

  6. Tiffany from akitchenfable.wordpress.com
    09.06.2017

    Wow I love this lasagna. I can’t even believe you put tofu in there. Never would have guessed. I’m pinning this for later! Thanks for sharing.

  7. Maggie from stayintheglow.com
    09.06.2017

    I woke up craving something like this- It must be meant to be (for dinner tonight)!

    • Maggie from stayintheglow.com
      09.10.2017

      I just made this for tonight’s dinner! Loved it. I felt bad when I went back for seconds and realized I had eaten a quarter of the pan, then realized that this recipe serves 4 🙂

      I’m giving it 4 stars!

      Here are some notes on how it turned out:
      I used pecans instead of walnuts
      I needed to add about 1/4 cup almond milk to the tofu to get it creamy enough
      I used 2 cans of tomatoes- one just wasn’t cutting it for me!
      I used an eggplant also in my layering
      I used no bake noodles, and the corners got reallllllly crunchy

  8. Buffy from begoodorganics.com
    09.05.2017

    Hi Jeanine

    This looks gorgeous! So excited for zucchini to be back in season here in NZ.

    I wonder – do you know if your book is available here? Would love to have a browse.

    x
    Kindest
    Buffy

  9. Danielle
    09.05.2017

    Sounds fantastic … do you per chance have nutritional info per serving?

  10. Erin@WellPlated
    09.05.2017

    We have SO MUCH zucchini, so this recipe is perfect!

  11. Yum, yum yum!!!! this is looks so pretty and fresh and delicious!!!

  12. Maria
    09.05.2017

    I want this for dinner!

  13. Jenny
    09.05.2017

    Oh I’m totally going to try this next week! The farmers market has been abundant with zucchini. I have never had pecorino cheese before. Is it available at most grocery stores?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.05.2017

      you should be able to find it at any grocery store – otherwise you can use shredded mozzarella!

      • Joycelyn
        09.06.2017

        Should your answer not be, you could use parmesan, asiago or manchego or other similar cheese instead?

        Mozzarella has a completely different texture and most important, lacks taste compared to pecorino or other similar grating cheeses, and of which would result in the finished dish tasting very different than intended.

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          09.06.2017

          The recipe will work with any cheese you like to put on top. It’s only 1 cup of cheese on top and it’s not the main flavor in the recipe (the filling is).

          • Gab
            02.13.2018

            Mozzarella sounds amazing on top!

      • Marisa Snow
        09.06.2017

        This recipe sounds so delicious and really healthy. I was wondering, my husband doesn’t tolerate soy, is there another substitute besides Ricotta cheese that is just as healthy? Thank You!

        • Jeanine Donofrio
          09.06.2017

          Hi Marissa, I think Kite Hill makes a nut-based ricotta that could possibly be subbed in here instead of the tofu.

          • Marisa Snow
            09.06.2017

            Ok where can I find that? Does Whole foods or Wegmans carry it? Thank You!

  14. Lexi @Lexi'scleankitchen
    09.05.2017

    Such a perfect low-carb lasagna recipe!! Cannot wait to give this a try!

  15. Maëva from travel-and-food.com
    09.05.2017

    That sounds so good!
    I have a few zucchinis I need to use up, I guess I’ll have to try that! Thanks for sharing 🙂

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.