A healthy garden vegetable lasagna, with layers of spinach ricotta, zucchini and onions, noodles, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. A delicious vegetarian lasagna that freezes wonderfully, so make a double batch and freeze another one for later!
I get so happy going out and looking at my garden. We spent the spring grading our hill and building six 4″ x 8″ raised beds. 2 whole beds are dedicated to arugula and lettuce, and we’ve been having lots of salads using them up.
Now that it is getting warm out, we are starting to see our first tomatoes and zucchini coming in. We have 8 tomato plants, 3 zucchini plants and 2 yellow squash plants. For just the 2 of us.
I may have gone a little overboard planting.
We have a few little baby green tomatoes that are just starting to grow. It has been cloudy and overcast here in California for almost a month, but it is finally getting bright and sunny, so I’m hoping to have some tomatoes to enjoy in just a few weeks.
Last week our first zucchini blossoms sprouted up, and this week the little tiny squash are growing. I can’t wait to have more zucchini than I know what to do with.
One of my favorite ways to cook up zucchini is in this garden vegetable lasagna. It is my very favorite lasagna recipe. I skip the meat, and instead add in lots of delicious vegetables. I add in lots of spinach to the ricotta, which gives it a beautiful green color. And instead of the typical meat layer, I swap that out for a layer of sautéed zucchini and onions with some garlic. Add in some layers of noodles, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite marinara sauce, and you have yourself a delicious, healthy lasagna.
Even though it is just the 2 of us, I still make a big 9×13 garden vegetable lasagna. This will last us 2 dinners, and Shawn will eat a big square of it for lunch all week. 1 meal prep, 2 dinners, and 5 lunches. Can’t beat that! And if you know Shawn, you know that it is the highest compliment to a recipe if he will eat leftovers that many times in a row. That boy likes his variety.
This garden vegetable lasagna freezes beautifully! If I have enough ingredients on hand, I’ll just make a double batch and freeze the other one. If I do that, I’ll make it in one of those disposable aluminum lasagna pans you can buy at the grocery store. That way my glass baking dish isn’t held hostage in the freezer.
As soon as I have a ton of zucchini on hand, I know I’ll be whipping up a few batches of these to freeze.
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Garden Vegetable Lasagna
Prep Time: 30 mins- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
Yield: 8 people 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 zucchini, chopped
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, grated or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 32-oz container ricotta cheese
- (2) 10-oz packages frozen spinach, thawed and all water squeezed out
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- (2) 25-oz jars marinara sauce
- 9-oz package NO BOIL lasagna noodles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees with the oven rack in the middle position.
- Preheat a medium size skillet over medium high heat. Add the olive oil, then cook the zucchini and onion for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add in the garlic, cook another 30 seconds until fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside.
- While the vegetables are cooking, in a medium size mixing bowl combine the ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, salt and pepper. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- Assemble the lasagna in a 9×13 baking dish. Layer in this order: tomato sauce, noodles, spinach ricotta mixture, zucchini onion mixture, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, noodles, spinach ricotta mixture, zucchini onion mixture, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, noodles, spinach ricotta mixture, zucchini onion mixture, mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce, noodles, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the lasagna with parchment paper, then aluminum foil.
- If freezing, make sure the aluminum foil is covering it so it is airtight. Will keep in the freezer for 3 months. When ready to cook, bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for 90 minutes covered, then 15 minutes uncovered, or until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown.
- If not freezing, bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 45 minutes covered, then 15 minutes uncovered, or until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes. Cut and serve warm.
- Leftovers will keep in an airtight container for 1 week.
More Italian Recipes:
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
Healthier Spaghetti and Sausage Meatballs
Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats
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Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
June 10, 2015 at 4:34 amThat’s so exciting that you garden is doing so well, Natalie! I really miss having one and definitely need to plant some veggies next year. This lasagna looks just perfect! I’ve never actually had one with just veggies before, so I’m loving the fresh flavors! Sounds delicious!
Kelly // The Pretty Bee: Cooking & Creating says
June 10, 2015 at 5:01 amI love veggie lasagna! This looks so cheesy and delicious. I can’t wait to see your harvest this summer!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
June 10, 2015 at 5:30 amI’m getting SO excited for my garden too! Just the other day I saw big ‘ol blossoms on the tomato plants and I literally squealed. LOL. And this lasagna? Oh gosh, I am SUCH a sucker for veggie-filled lasagna! I secretly love it even more than the traditional kind. ;) Lovin’ all the healthy green goodness you loaded into this!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
June 10, 2015 at 6:24 amYour garden sounds amazing! Love it when you can go out and grab fresh veggies from your backyard :) We aren’t growing as many veggies as last year but the zucchini and tomatoes are always my favorite too. Love your veggie packed lasagna! It looks gorgeous!
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
June 10, 2015 at 8:08 amOhhh, how exciting that your veggies are coming in, Natalie!! You’ll be on zucchini overload, but how fun! It’s such a versatile veggie. Can’t get more local than your back yard either! Love it! This Lasagna, mmmmm.. comfort food, yes and I will turn on my oven for this! Bonus points for multiple meals and lunches! Thank you, Natalie! Delicious!
kimberly oyler says
June 10, 2015 at 9:03 ammy mom would love this! looks good!
Katalina@ Peas and Peonies says
June 10, 2015 at 12:59 pmI love lasagnas, but who doesn’t? the vegetable version is always so much lighter and with more flavor, definitely something I would enjoy eating.
Rachel @the dessert chronicles says
June 10, 2015 at 6:04 pmI am SO jealous of your garden! It must be so great to pick your own vegetables all the time and this lasagna looks so fresh and delicious!! It has been way too long since I made a lasagna and now that is going to have to change.
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates says
June 10, 2015 at 6:30 pmThis is the prettiest lasagna I have ever seen! It looks so good! Pinning! Love that you loaded it up with summer veggies! Maybe I can convince Baby Stella to eat vegetables with this dish! ;-)
Michelle { A Latte Food } says
June 10, 2015 at 11:15 pmUmm…you can totally send some of your veggies my way–this lasagna looks so amazing!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says
June 11, 2015 at 1:30 am1. So jealous of your booming garden! 2. This vegetable lasagna looks amazing – I’d definitely eat it for 5 lunches in a row!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods says
June 11, 2015 at 5:03 amVeggie lasagna is always my go-to for using up garden veggies. We always do 5 zucchini/squash plants – we give some away and I’m pretty much the queen of zucchini haha. I just add it to every single thing I cook and I really never get tired of it! 2 years ago we planted 24 tomato plants. I know, it was insane, but fun! Glad you’re enjoying your garden Natalie! :)
Kathy@ Olives & Garlic says
June 11, 2015 at 11:59 amI love looking at my garden as well. I feel like I’m accomplishing so much. It’s a great feeling to be able to grow your own produce, isn’t it? This lasagna looks amazing. I need it, I want it. I think I’ll make it. :)
★★★★★
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
June 11, 2015 at 1:36 pmI could totally eat lasagna for lunch and dinner all week long. This is so perfect for summer produce!
Emma says
June 17, 2015 at 7:00 pmI made this today and it was great! The ricotta spinach layer in particular was amazing. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Natalie says
June 18, 2015 at 10:54 amI am so happy to hear that Emma! Thank you for telling me you just liked my recipe. You just made my day! Hugs!
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen says
June 28, 2015 at 9:35 pmI made this for dinner tonight and we loved it! I love meals like this, that make lots of leftovers. The combination of zucchini, spinach, and ricotta was delicious! I’m looking forward to dinner tomorrow night. :)
Natalie says
June 29, 2015 at 7:24 pmKristine! You just made my DAY! I’m so glad you and your family liked it. And thanks for taking the time to let me know. Hugs friend!
indy says
December 26, 2015 at 8:38 amI made it for a potluck. Everybody loved it and asked me for recipe. I added fresh minced ginger and Ancho dried chili. Thank you for an awesome recipe.
★★★★★
Natalie says
January 6, 2016 at 2:28 pmI am so happy to hear that Indy! This just made my day! And this would be a great dish to bring for a potluck. And now I want to try it with ginger and ancho dried chili. Yum! Thanks for taking the time to let me know you liked my recipe, you’re too nice!
Ginger says
December 22, 2016 at 8:09 amYes why frozen? Does fresh spinach mess it up?
Ryan says
October 5, 2016 at 11:06 amTo be clear, if I’m freezing this, I put all of the ingredients together as described, but do not bake until I pull it out of the freezer and am ready to eat it right?
Also, why frozen spinach instead of fresh?
Amna says
May 29, 2018 at 11:53 pmI made this for a Ramadan gathering the other day and it was perfect! Followed the recipe exactly and it was so tasty. Thank you for sharing!
★★★★★
Natalie says
May 30, 2018 at 6:57 pmI’m so glad you liked in Amna! This made my day! Thanks for letting me know!
Kaila Potts says
September 27, 2018 at 4:35 pmI love this recipe. I used fresh spinach and cut it up and put it in the ricotta mix. I also grated the zucchini so it would be finer! Turned out great!!!! The family loves it.
★★★★★
Natalie says
October 1, 2018 at 1:51 pmI’m so glad you liked it Kaila! And so smart using fresh spinach! Do you put it in raw? Or cook it first? I want to try that next time!
Ann says
December 3, 2018 at 2:37 pmTwo questions:
Can regular boil lasagna noodles be used and if so, would I need to cut down on the marinara or other liquids?
Also, can it be put together, frozen, thawed in fridge then heated? I would like to try to make it ahead for Christmas.
Thanks!!
Natalie says
December 5, 2018 at 4:47 pmYes! You can use boil lasagna noodles! No need to adjust the amount of marinara.
Yes! This freezes beautifully. Assemble it, then freeze it RAW. Take it out 24 hours before to thaw in your fridge, then bake it according to the directions.
This is a great one for Christmas! Your whole family would love it. I love making it for my family since my mom and sister are vegetarian, and this is a dish all can enjoy.