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Home » Dinner » Zucchini Lasagna

Published: August 14, 2019 Last Modified: January 26, 2020 By Sara 52 Comments

Zucchini Lasagna

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Zucchini Lasagna | Low Carb Lasagna #zucchini #lasagna #lowcarb #groundbeef #dinner #dinneratthezoo

This zucchini lasagna is layers of thinly sliced zucchini with three types of cheese and a hearty meat sauce, all baked to golden brown perfection. A hearty low carb meal option that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!

Zucchini is delicious prepared in so many different ways. Whether it’s grilled, stuffed, or baked into lasagna, it’s always a big hit!

Zucchini Lasagna | Low Carb Lasagna #zucchini #lasagna #lowcarb #groundbeef #dinner #dinneratthezoo Zucchini Lasagna | Low Carb Lasagna #zucchini #lasagna #lowcarb #groundbeef #dinner #dinneratthezoo

A spatula serving up a portion of zucchini lasagna.

I love a cheesy lasagna, but I don’t necessarily love the heavy carb count. This zucchini lasagna has all the flavors of the classic dish, but with less carbs, and an extra serving of veggies too! It’s super easy to make and is a great way to use up zucchini from the garden.

How do you make zucchini lasagna?

This recipe starts with the sauce, which is made with ground beef, garlic, onions and a jar of marinara. The sauce is layered in a baking dish along with thinly sliced zucchini, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses. The finishing touch is a final layer of shredded cheese, then everything goes into the oven to bake. Add a sprinkling of parsley, then serve and enjoy!

Meat sauce with ground beef and tomatoes in a skillet.

Tips for zucchini lasagna

  • Use a mandoline to slice zucchini into even noodle like strips.
  • The zucchini is salted before it goes into the lasagna to draw out any excess water from the vegetables and prevent the finished dish from being watery.
  • You can build the lasagna ahead of time and bake the lasagna when you are ready to serve it. The unbaked lasagna will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
  • For softer lasagna “noodles” you can boil, grill or bake the zucchini strips for 5 minutes. I tend to enjoy the texture of the zucchini when it’s a little bit firmer, which is why this recipe does not require you to pre-cook the zucchini.
  • I prefer to grate my own cheese for this recipe. Pre-shredded cheese often contains stabilizers and anti caking agents and doesn’t melt as well.

Layers of ricotta and mozzarella cheese in a baking dish.

Zucchini lasagna variations

This zucchini lasagna is lower carb and packed with flavor, but you can still customize it to your palate with a variety of different ingredients.

  • Vegetables: Try thinly sliced eggplant or summer squash instead of zucchini.
  • Meat: Use ground turkey, sausage or grilled chicken instead of ground beef in the sauce.
  • Sauce: Try a creamy Alfredo style sauce instead of marinara sauce.
  • Add Ins: You can add other ingredients such as cooked mushrooms, spinach or artichoke hearts.

Zucchini slices layered with meat sauce and cheese.

how to reheat lasagna

To reheat a whole lasagna from the refrigerator, heat it covered on a center rack in the oven at 375 degrees F for about 35-40 minutes.

To reheat a single slice of lasagna in the microwave, simply drizzle about 1/2 teaspoon of water over the lasagna and heat it on high for about 2minutes. Try slicing into the middle of the lasagna to see if it needs more heat. If it needs more heat, cook it a little longer in the microwave in 30 second increments.

A baked zucchini lasagna topped with melted cheese and parsley.

Who needs carb laden noodles when you can use zucchini instead? No one will miss the pasta, I promise!

More low carb recipes

  • Pizza Stuffed Chicken
  • Steak Kabobs
  • Baked Salmon
  • Garlic Butter Shrimp
  • Marinated Pork Tenderloin
A spatula serving up a portion of zucchini lasagna.
Print Pin
5 from 33 votes

Zucchini Lasagna

This zucchini lasagna is layers of thinly sliced zucchini with three types of cheese and a hearty meat sauce, all baked to golden brown perfection. A hearty low carb meal option that's perfect for feeding a crowd!
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 368kcal
Author Sara Welch

Ingredients

  • 3 large zucchini
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
  • 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons garlic minced
  • 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
  • 16 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 tablespoon parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Trim both ends off the zucchini.
  • Use a mandoline to cut the zucchini into 1/8 inch slices. Sprinkle salt over the zucchini slices, then lay them out on a layer of paper towels to drain. Let sit for at least 10 minutes.
  • Pat the tops of the zucchini slices with paper towels until dry.
  • While the zucchini is resting, prepare the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking the meat up with a spatula, until beef is browned and cooked through.
  • Add the onion and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  • Add the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes.
  • Place the ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, egg, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 2 or 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Place 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of the dish. Add 1/3 of the zucchini slices on top. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the zucchini then top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the mozzarella cheese.
  • Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, then let stand for 5-7 minutes. Cut into slices, then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 368kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 820mg | Potassium: 890mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1178IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 374mg | Iron: 3mg
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Filed Under: Dinner, Gluten Free

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    Comments

    1. Briana Smith says

      July 24, 2020 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      This was SO GOOD. I used cottage cheese instead because that’s what my mom always used to do haha. Didnt miss the pasta AT ALL.

      Reply
    2. Rhode says

      July 22, 2020 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! I’m finding ways to reduce my intake of flour, pasta and rice. This was so good and all my family loved it! I used found turkey and ricotta cheese instead.

      Reply
    3. Renee says

      July 14, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      In the nutrition label, is that per serving? I know it’s probably a dumb question, but is the whole thing really 368 calories?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 14, 2020 at 5:20 pm

        It’s per serving!

        Reply
    4. Mallory says

      June 16, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and so easy to prepare! I substituted cottage cheese for the ricotta to lower the fat and increase protein. Also used ground turkey instead of beef. Added some fresh basil from the garden. Yum!

      Reply
    5. Sue says

      June 11, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious! I only had 2 zuccini-3 would have been better. I’m allergic to eggs so left it out and it was still unbelievably good and my husband loved it.

      Reply
    6. Kholloed says

      June 9, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe looks so delicious but can you use cream cheese instead of ricotta cheese?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        June 9, 2020 at 7:07 pm

        I haven’t tried it myself but I believe it would work fine!

        Reply
    7. TDS says

      May 28, 2020 at 6:31 am

      Amazing. It’s better than traditional lasagna. My husband is low carb, but I’m not so it can be a struggle to make meals we both enjoy. This is my favorite.

      Reply
    8. Ashley Saelens says

      May 27, 2020 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      Amazing!!!

      Reply
    9. Tyla says

      February 17, 2020 at 2:32 am

      Yum, thanks for the recipe! How long can this lasagne stay in the fridge after being baked?
      Or how long in the freezer after being baked?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        February 17, 2020 at 2:03 pm

        You can keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freezer for 2 months.

        Reply
    10. Jackie says

      August 26, 2019 at 3:16 pm

      Hi Sara

      If I want to add mushrooms or spinach, how much would I add to the recipe. Also, does the spinach have to be cooked.

      Reply
      • Sara says

        August 26, 2019 at 8:46 pm

        I’d add 1 cup of cooked spinach or mushrooms!

        Reply
    11. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      August 17, 2019 at 2:33 am

      5 stars
      Yum!!! This is such a great dinner idea. Love it.

      Reply
      • Jo says

        April 19, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        I just made this tonight! I had to make a few substitutions because of quarantine (so I used what I had… ie: making ricotta out of yogurt), plain canned (unsalted) tomato sauce instead of marinara, and I added mushrooms to the meat mixture. But this is FANTASTIC. Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    12. Becky Hardin says

      August 16, 2019 at 6:01 pm

      5 stars
      The best way to make lasagna! I love using zucchini instead of noodles.

      Reply
    13. Krissy Allori says

      August 16, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good and a healthier take on a great dish!

      Reply
    14. wilhelmina says

      August 16, 2019 at 1:49 pm

      5 stars
      This was a huge hit with my crew! It is delicious!

      Reply
    15. Natasha says

      August 16, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      5 stars
      Great low carb option – love the zucchini as noodles!

      Reply
    16. Melanie Bauer says

      August 16, 2019 at 7:21 am

      5 stars
      Looks so inviting! I would really love to try this, so tasty and delicious!

      Reply
    17. Lora says

      August 16, 2019 at 3:57 am

      5 stars
      Fantastic that this is low-carb. Looks so tempting and delightful!!

      Reply
    18. Chrissie Baker says

      August 16, 2019 at 1:39 am

      5 stars
      This looks delicious. It is impossible to get my husband to eat zucchini, but know he will eat this.

      Reply
    19. Kim Seghers says

      August 15, 2019 at 6:39 pm

      5 stars
      I have never tried zucchini Lasagna before. Your recipe looks so tasty. I ‘m adding it to next week’s dinner menu.

      Reply
    20. Beth Pierce says

      August 15, 2019 at 3:19 pm

      5 stars
      This is everything a gourmet recipe should be, and then some! Looking forward to enjoying this for dinner this week!

      Reply
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