Lasagna is a classic Italian dish that is loved by many. The layered combination of pasta, sauce, cheese, and other fillings makes for a hearty, delicious, and satisfying meal. But did you know you can also make lasagna with ground turkey instead of beef or sausage? Turkey lasagna is a great way to lighten up this carb-heavy dish while still keeping it super flavorful.
In this article, I’ll walk you through the entire process of how to make turkey lasagna, from choosing ingredients to assembling and cooking it to perfection. Whether you’re a lasagna aficionado or making it for the first time, this turkey lasagna recipe will soon become a regular in your dinner rotation.
Benefits of Turkey Lasagna
There are a few reasons why you may want to use ground turkey instead of beef or sausage in your lasagna
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Lower in fat and calories – Ground turkey is a leaner alternative that can help cut some of the fat and calories without sacrificing flavor. This makes turkey lasagna a lighter, healthier choice.
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Budget-friendly – Ground turkey is often cheaper than beef and sausage, so using it can help save money on ingredients for this recipe.
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Easily adaptable – Turkey lasagna can be modified to suit different dietary needs and restrictions. It’s easy to make it gluten-free vegetarian or dairy-free.
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Kid-friendly – The milder flavor and softer texture of ground turkey can make this dish more appealing for kids and picky eaters. The classic lasagna flavors still shine through.
So if you’re looking for a satisfying, family-friendly lasagna that won’t weigh you down, turkey is the way to go! Now let’s get cooking.
Ingredients for Turkey Lasagna
While the ingredients can be adapted based on preferences, here is a basic checklist of what you’ll need:
For the meat sauce:
- 1 pound ground turkey (93% lean or higher recommended)
- 1 onion, diced
- 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
For the ricotta mixture:
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1⁄4 cup parmesan, grated
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
For assembly:
- 12 lasagna noodles (not the no-boil kind)
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
You’ll also need a 9×13 inch baking dish, a large pot for cooking the noodles, and some cooking spray or oil to grease the dish.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for flawless turkey lasagna every time:
Cook the Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the onion in a bit of oil until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add the ground turkey and cook through, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
- Once no longer pink, drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper.
- Let the sauce simmer while you prepare the other components.
Make the Ricotta Mixture
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Mix until thoroughly incorporated. Set aside.
Cook the Noodles
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and rinse noodles with cool water to stop cooking. Lay them out flat.
Assemble the Lasagna
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- Place 4 noodles lengthwise over the sauce, slightly overlapping.
- Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles.
- Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
- Spread 1/3 of the meat sauce over the cheese.
- Repeat layering two more times with noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce.
- Top with final layer of sauce and mozzarella.
Bake the Lasagna
- Cover dish tightly with foil and bake at 375°F for 50 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let lasagna rest 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving.
And that’s it – your turkey lasagna is ready to enjoy! The blend of flavors, textures, and layers is so satisfying. This recipe also freezes very well, so you can prepare it in advance for easy weeknight meals.
Here are a few extra turkey lasagna tips:
- For best flavor and texture, use high quality ricotta and mozzarella. Part-skim is fine.
- If the dish seems dry while baking, add a few splashes of milk to moisten it.
- Adding a layer of cooked, crumbled Italian sausage boosts flavor.
- For vegetarian, substitute sautéed mushrooms for the turkey.
- Swap the turkey for lean ground beef or a meatless crumble.
Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your tastes – add spinach, olives, peppers or other veggies to the layers. Serve turkey lasagna with garlic bread or a fresh salad for a hearty, comforting Italian-inspired meal. Leftovers can be frozen up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Sharing what our busy family of four loves to eat!
A simple lasagna can be such a great way to feed a family or a crowd. Nothing over complicated, just layers upon layers of sauce, noodles and cheese. Because there are so many layers, I do try to make mine a little bit lighter on the cheeses since there are 3 different kinds used (Ricotta, Parmesan and Mozzarella). No flavor is sacrificed though, don’t worry!!
What I like most is besides the meat sauce, it’s all baked and served in the same pan which makes cleaning up a breeze. You can even make the meat sauce ahead of time if you need to. The whole thing can be prepped up until pre-baking if you need some time saving as well!
I find the best way to serve mine up is with a side salad and some crusty garlic bread. But I’d love to hear what your favorite dish is to feed your family or a crowd. Let me know in the comments below. Happy cooking!
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 small yellow onion, diced small
- 3 clovers garlic, minced
- 1 package ground turkey (about 1 1/4 lbs.)
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 cup grated Parmesan + more to sprinkle on top
- 9 no-cook lasagna noodles
- 8 slices of mozzarella cheese (or 1/2 cup grated part-skim mozzarella cheese)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add turkey and cook until no longer pink, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks, about 3-5 minutes. Mix in tomato sauce and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper and Parmesan.
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread 1 cup of tomato meat sauce on the bottom of pan. Place a layer of 3 lasagna noodles on top, touching but not overlapping. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the noodles. Top with another cup of the tomato meat sauce. Repeat with another layer of 3 noodles, then remaining ricotta mixture, then remaining tomato meat mixture and finally 1 more layer of 3 noodles. Top the final layer of noodles with the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with the grated cheese and mozzarella cheese.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 5-10 minutes more. Enjoy!
I have an amazing husband and two precious girls (8 & 6 years old). All the recipes you’ll find here are what we eat together. I plan our meals around our busy lives with easy, quick and tasty dishes.
I hope my recipes here help excite you to cook for your loved ones and inspire you to even try some new foods.
How to Make the Perfect Turkey Lasagna Every Time
FAQ
What is the secret ingredient in lasagne?
Ricotta Béchamel Is the Secret to the Best Lasagna.Oct 21, 2023
What is the order of layers in lasagna?
- Bottom layer: Tomato sauce
- Next layer: Lasagna pasta sheets
- Following layer: White sauce (béchamel)
- Repeat: Continue alternating layers of pasta, tomato sauce, and white sauce
- Top layer: Remaining sauce and grated Parmesan cheese
What ingredients do I need for lasagna?
- Lasagna noodles, which can be store-bought or homemade
Do you cook the meat before you put it in lasagna?
- Cook the meat: Cook the ground meat in a skillet until browned and crumbly. …
- Cook the noodles: Boil the lasagna noodles in lightly salted water until they’re al dente.
What is homemade Turkey lasagna?
A hearty, cheesy lasagna is the perfect cozy comfort food and this homemade turkey lasagna always hits the spot! It’s filled with plenty of fresh herbs, spices, fresh garlic, and instead of traditional ground beef or Italian sausage we’re using ground turkey!
Can one eat lasagna?
Lasagna can be eaten, but we must know what the person needs, or better. If you seek weight loss, or control the consumption of pasta and cheese. If you are looking for weight loss, it is advisable to replace the layers of pasta with vegetables, such as zucchini or eggplant, helping to balance the nutritional value.
How do you assemble a Turkey lasagna?
Layer your lasagna. Now it’s time to assemble! Spread turkey meat sauce on the bottom of a prepared baking dish, place lasagna noodles on top, spread with the ricotta mixture, then top with basil and mozzarella slices. Add more meat sauce and parmesan cheese, then repeat the layers once more. Bake & serve.
How do you make lasagna with turkey meat sauce?
To assemble the lasagna, spread 1 1/2 cups of the turkey meat sauce over the bottom of the baking dish. Place 5 of the cooked lasagna noodles on top, 4 vertical and 1 horizontal. Spread with half of the ricotta cheese mixture, 2 tablespoons diced basil, then top with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
Can you use ground turkey in Lasagna?
Ground Turkey: usually lasagna is made with ground beef and/or ground Italian sausage but we’re making a lighter version of the classic and using ground turkey. You can use regular dark meat ground turkey if you like or use ground turkey breast. Green Bell Pepper: I love the extra bit of flavor fresh bell pepper adds to the meat sauce.
What ingredients do you need to make Turkey lasagna?
To make turkey lasagna, you’ll need the following ingredients: Lasagna noodles – Regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free lasagna noodles work well. No-boil noodles make assembly easy. Onion and garlic – An onion and garlic provide a flavor base for the sauce. Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes – The sauce provides moisture and classic Italian flavor.