Zucchini Lasagna Recipe
Zucchini Lasagna may be the perfect late summer meal, but it also has a reputation for turning out watery and sad! We’re sharing a tasty, beefy zucchini lasagna recipe with you, along with all the tips and tricks we learned for reducing moisture and getting a casserole with a firm, hearty, and cheesy consistency.
A few years ago we came across zucchini lasagna and knew we had to try it. Lasagna is all about the cheese anyway. What could go wrong?
Well, our first undertaking turned out flavorful but soupy. Of course, zucchini lets out moisture rather than soaking it up like wheat noodles. But we were determined to make it work. And after a couple of experiments, work it did!
Our final lasagna is hearty and delicious, made with lean ground beef and a flavorful homemade sauce (that packs in even more veggies!) The whole pan is topped with bubbly toasted cheese that’ll entice your picky eaters to try a bite… or two, or three.
Tips for Zucchini Lasagna That isn’t Watery
Through some reading and experimentation, I discovered a few tips on making zucchini lasagna that isn’t too soupy. Here’s what to do:
- Slice your zucchini strips very thin. I’ve used knives, cheese cutters, and peelers and found success with all. Your noodles don’t have to look uniform so don’t stress if they come off imperfectly.
- “Sweat” your zucchini noodles for 30 minutes before using them. To do this, place some paper towels at the bottom of a colander and set your slices on top. Sprinkle liberally with salt and allow to sit for 30 minutes. The salt helps pull moisture out of the zucchini. When your time is up, wipe your slices off really well with a clean towel to remove any excess moisture and too much salt.
- OR – If you don’t feel like using the sweat method, broil your strips in the oven for a few minutes, until slightly brown. This should dry them out nicely.
- Reduce liquid in sauces. Use a tomato sauce that is thick rather than runny. Try to spoon any excess liquid out of your cottage or ricotta cheese before mixing with the egg and parmesan.
- Once the lasagna has cooked for 20 minutes, turn the oven to broil and open the door so that it’s just cracked. Allow the zucchini to cook until bubbly and brown, maybe 2 minutes. Watch carefully to make sure it does not burn.
- Allow the lasagna to cool for 20-30 minutes once it’s out of the oven before cutting into it. This gives it time to set and let some of the liquid evaporate.
Using these techniques I have found success at making zucchini lasagna that holds together and has just the right amount of moisture. And the next day, it’s even better!
How to Make Meat Sauce for Zucchini Lasagna
I love this sauce because it is simple, tasty, high in protein, and even sneaks in a few extra veggies.
Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Try and break up the beef into really small pieces so that it spreads well in the casserole. When the beef is no longer pink, add in the onions, peppers, carrots, and garlic and continue to saute just a few minutes, until the onions start to turn translucent.
Next add canned tomato sauce, seasonings, and Worcestershire sauce (I know it sounds strange, but I really like the depth of flavor that this condiment adds! If you’re out of Worcestershire sauce, don’t worry. You can omit it and still have a tasty sauce.)
Allow the sauce mixture to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are cooked well and the sauce has thickened a bit.
And that’s it! Also, if you need a shortcut, you can use a pre-made sauce for this lasagna. Just be sure that it’s thick! Reducing moisture is key to zucchini lasagna with the right consistency.
The Perfect Make-Ahead Meal
Traditional lasagna can start to get dry after the first day. But zucchini lasagna can handle a second heating marvelously well. In fact, a day in the fridge helps all those Italian flavors blend for an even tastier lasagna!
To prep this meal ahead, you can go ahead and make it in its entirety. Then COOL it all the way, or nearly all the way, before you refrigerate.
Reheat up to two days later in a 375 degree oven, for 25-30 minutes.
Zucchini Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini
- 1 pound beef, ground, 95% lean
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1/2 medium bell pepper, red
- 2 medium carrot
- 3 clove garlic
- 15 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1 teaspoon basil, dried
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
- 2 cup cottage cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Optional
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley, fresh
Instructions
- Wash and cut zucchini into very thin strips. Line a colander with paper towels and place it in the sink. Place zucchini into the colander and salt generously. Allow zucchini strips to sweat for 30 minutes.
- Dice onion and red bell pepper (enough for 1/2 cup), grate carrots (enough for 1/2 cup), and mince garlic.
- Pre-heat oven to 350* F and grease a 9×13 inch pan.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef until cooked completely, making sure to chop into small pieces as you go. Remove beef onto a paper towel-lined plate and set aside.
- Remove most of the remaining fat from the skillet, place back on the stove, and saute the onion, pepper, carrot, and garlic until the onion is translucent.
- Add tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, spices, and the cooked ground beef back into the skillet. Bring to a simmer, and allow to simmer for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix cottage cheese, egg, and parmesan in a small bowl.
- Once the zucchini have sweat for 30 minutes, wipe clean and dry with a clean cloth. Place one layer of zucchini strips on the bottom of the greased pan.
- On top of the zucchini, spread half of the tomato-beef sauce. Then spread a layer of half of the cottage cheese mixture. Then sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers once more: zucchini, sauce, cottage cheese, mozzarella.
- Place in the oven for 20 minutes at 350* F, then turn the oven to broil and crack the oven door. Allow the top of the lasagna to bubble and brown, watching carefully. Should take 2 minutes or less.
- Remove from the oven and allow to set for 20-30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
www.superhealthykids.com
Natalie Monson
I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.
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Made this for dinner and everyone gobbled it up!!! A rarity with a 5 person family!
The flavour was really great and I loved the fact it is full of veg! Will be making again for sure.
We love to hear that! Such a wonderful thing to find a healthy meal that everyone loves!! Thanks for letting us know about the success.
Thanks for sharing, my niece is GF so always on the lookout for easy & tasty recipes.
Great flavors, but this was far too involved and time consuming for a weeknight dinner.
This was very flavorful and wonderful to eat (getting a lot of hidden veggies into the meal). It did have a lot of steps for preparation which is the only reason I gave it a 4 stars out of 5. I will make this again!
delicious!
My family loved it! It´s a bit time-consuming, but very good.
This is a new family favorite! Delicious!
My family loves it!
Excellent!
Delicious! But time consuming. But totally worth the time it takes to make!
Delicious!
Absolutely delicious ! Even my six year old who isn’t a big fan of vegetables enjoyed it. Definitely a winner for our family.
Loved it! I think I’ll try it with zoodles next time instead of just cutting the zucchini in thin slices. My husband even liked it and he doesn’t usually like vegetables!
Everybody in my family loved this, even my picky eater. It takes a bit to prepare so it’s best to get it ready a day in advance.
How much is a portion size for the nutrition facts?
This is if your 9X13 pan is divided into 9 pieces.
was looking for a vegetable lasagna as I need to reduce carbs. This is great. As to time consuming… what’s more time consuming than a pasta lasagna? I love making dishes ahead. It’s fun to wake up knowing dinner is ready to go in the fridge. Since this is actually better the next day it’s a win win and worth every second of prep time.
Can you freeze this?
Yes!