Gluten-free lasagna might not be the first dish people think of when they think of gluten-free meals since lasagna depends on noodles as their staple starch. However, thanks to the advancement of gluten-free flours, gluten-free lasagnas are now a fast and easy weeknight option even for people sensitive to wheat.
Why Would Someone Need Gluten-Free Lasagna?
Some people need to eat gluten-free because they have an allergy or an intolerance to gluten, proteins found in foods that contain wheat. These foods include bread, cereal, crackers, and many types of noodles. More severe gluten allergies are known as celiac disease.
Gluten-free lasagna recipes allow people who are allergic to regular wheat-based lasagna noodles to still enjoy this tasty casserole. Lasagnas are a useful meal to prepare ahead for fast meals during the week, and they are also a practical choice for feeding a large group.
Common Ingredients in Gluten-Free Lasagna
Even though lasagna is traditionally made with wheat-based noodles, the rest of this Italian casserole is easy to reproduce in a gluten-free recipe if the noodles are replaced with a gluten-free substitute.
Here are the basic ingredients you’re likely to find in a gluten-free lasagna recipe:
- Gluten-free noodles: Gluten-free noodles can be made fresh at home. However, dried gluten-free lasagna noodles are a convenient shortcut that can drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to prepare a lasagna.
- Protein: Many gluten-free lasagnas feature some sort of protein to bulk up the casserole. A mixture of ground beef and ground pork is popular, but gluten-free lasagnas can also be made with shredded chicken, scrambled eggs, ground turkey, or a meatless protein crumble.
- Vegetables: Most gluten-free lasagna recipes feature some combination of vegetables to help balance out the meat and cheese in the recipe. Common vegetables included in gluten-free lasagna include onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh herbs, fresh greens like baby spinach, and squash.
- Cheese: Cheese is the glue that holds the lasagna together, and many different varieties of cheese can be used in a lasagna. The most common types of cheeses included in lasagna are mozzarella and ricotta cheese.
- Sauce: Bolognese sauce is a common sauce found in lasagna. Marinara and alfredo sauces are also popular. White sauces such as alfredo and bechamel are typically used with chicken-based lasagnas, while tomato-based sauces like marinara are found in lasagnas with beef and pork.
Using these basic categories, you can make any combination of different lasagna types based on ingredients that you prefer.
Tips for Making Gluten-Free Lasagna at Home
Making gluten-free lasagna at home is similar to making regular lasagna.
Here are a few tips that can help you get the best possible result when you make a gluten-free lasagna from scratch:
- Use high-quality ingredients. Since lasagna is a relatively simple dish to make, each ingredient needs to be the best quality you can afford for good flavor. Fresh vegetables will give your lasagna brighter colors and flavors than using canned vegetables. Springing for expensive add-ins like ground veal can make a big difference in the lasagna’s texture.
- Use whole milk mozzarella and ricotta cheese. Using whole milk over lowfat or two percent milk can give the lasagna a richer flavor and better mouthfeel. Choose fresh mozzarella and block cheese over pre-shredded cheese for moist cheese with a melty texture.
- Use a proper lasagna pan. Using a real lasagna pan can allow you to build a lasagna that is deep enough to keep from drying out, and it makes layering the lasagna easier.
- Allow the lasagna to rest. Resting the lasagna for ten to twenty minutes before serving allows the lasagna to solidify and prevents it from falling apart when cut.
Regardless of which gluten-free lasagna recipe you end up going with, gathering all of the necessary ingredients and equipment before you get started can save you a lot of disorganization while preparing your lasagna later.
It’s also a good idea to start a sink of soapy water and soak dishes as you go. This will help prevent you from making a mess of the kitchen while you’re assembling your lasagna.
How to Make Gluten-Free Lasagna From Scratch
Even though each gluten-free lasagna recipe will be slightly different, most will include the same basic steps for cooking and assembling them.
These are the steps you should follow to make gluten-free lasagna from scratch:
- Gather your ingredients and equipment. This step also allows you to double-check the recipe and read it an extra time. This can keep you from making simple mistakes such as leaving out an ingredient or skipping a recipe step later on.
- Cook the lasagna noodles. Cooking gluten-free lasagna noodles is similar to cooking regular wheat-based lasagna noodles. Follow the instructions on the box of dried noodles or follow a fresh gluten-free lasagna noodle recipe to prepare the noodles, then drain and reserve them.
- Cook the protein. If you are including a protein in the lasagna such as ground beef or shredded chicken, the meat should be pan-fried and seasoned. You can add aromatics such as onion and garlic as well as vegetables like bell pepper and mushrooms. Drain fat from the protein and reserve.
- Prepare the sauce and cheese. The sauce for the lasagna should be made if you’re making it from scratch, and any cheese you use should be grated fresh. Keep these two ingredients in separate bowls once prepared. Place the protein in the sauce and stir to combine.
- Layer the lasagna. In a greased lasagna pan, start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan, then layer noodles, cheese, and sauce alternately until the lasagna pan is filled. Top off with a final layer of noodles and cheese.
- Cook the lasagna. Cook the lasagna at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for thirty to forty-five minutes until the lasagna is bubbling and golden brown on top. Remove the lasagna and allow it to rest for ten to twenty minutes, then cut up and serve.
That’s the basic breakdown for how to make gluten-free lasagna. If you want a more specific recipe, keep reading to find twenty of the best gluten-free lasagna recipes from across the Internet.
20 Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipes to Lighten Up Dinner
1. Easy and Healthy Lasagna with Cashew Spinach Ricotta
If you avoid making lasagna because you feel like it’s too heavy and complicated to make, this easy lasagna recipe from Nutrition in the Kitchen has a minimalist ingredient list. It’s a good place to start exploring the world of gluten-free lasagnas.
This healthy vegan lasagna is dairy-free as well as gluten-free thanks to the inclusion of a cashew-based ricotta that is packed with healthy spinach.
2. Spinach Artichoke Lasagna Roll-Ups
These lasagna roll-ups at Skinnytaste are a tasty variation on the traditional lasagna flavors by combining canned artichoke hearts and frozen chopped spinach with salty parmesan and ricotta.
Going with a roll-up structure for the lasagna rather than the traditional layers allows the lasagna to both cook and freeze faster, making it a convenient weeknight meal.
3. Sauteed Eggplant Lasagna Spirals
These sauteed eggplant lasagna spirals from A Hint of Rosemary can be made with either traditional or gluten-free noodles, and the spiral presentation makes them a beautiful addition to the super table.
This spiraled lasagna includes fresh eggplant and arugula for a healthy dose of essential vitamins and minerals. If you don’t like the spirals, these ingredients can also be layered in a traditional lasagna structure.
4. Homemade Gluten-Free Vegan Lasagna
Need a homemade meal but don’t have a lot of time to put one together? It doesn’t get much simpler than this five-ingredient vegan and gluten-free lasagna from Sweet Sensitive Free.
A good thing about this recipe is that it gives you some practice in making your own gluten-free noodles. Using rice flour, gluten-free starch, hot water, and turmeric, you can have fresh gluten-free noodles ready for lasagna in just a few minutes.
5. Sweet Potato Lasagna
If you’re looking for a different kind of gluten-free lasagna, this sweet potato lasagna from Heal Me Delicious ditches traditional lasagna ingredients like tomatoes and noodles for white sweet potatoes and a dairy-free “cheese sauce” that is still rich and satisfying.
An advantage of this lasagna sauce is that it can be saved and frozen to reheat for other dinners. It’s a practical way to add instant flavor to simple weeknight meals.
6. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
Along with eggplant, spaghetti squash is another popular noodle substitute for pasta dishes like lasagna. These gluten-free spaghetti squash lasagna boats from Skinnytaste use chicken sausage with fresh marinara and herbs for a lighter take on the traditional lasagna.
To slice the tough spaghetti squash before baking, poke the squash all over with a fork and microwave the squash for a few minutes. This should soften it up enough to cut more easily.
7. Easy Vegan Crockpot Lasagna
Another easy way to make gluten-free lasagna is to use your crockpot. The easy vegan crockpot lasagna at My Quiet Kitchen lets you sit back and relax while dinner cooks itself.
This recipe uses no-boil gluten-free noodles, so it can be prepared without cooking the noodles ahead of time. This will save you tons of time and energy in the kitchen. A dairy-free tofu cheese and sauteed mushroom mix help make this a hearty addition to your next potluck.
8. Vegan Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
Zucchini is another popular addition to vegan and gluten-free lasagnas. The vegan zucchini lasagna roll-ups at From My Bowl replace traditional wheat-based noodles with thinly sliced zucchini for a tender lasagna that is full of nutrients.
These zucchini rolls are stuffed with a herbaceous marinara sauce and a cashew cheese seasoned with garlic, nutritional yeast, and lemon juice.
9. Instant Pot Chicken Lasagna Soup
Want delicious gluten-free lasagna flavors without all the assembly work? Check out this Instant Pot chicken lasagna soup at Ruchi’s Kitchen.
This soup has all of the flavors and ingredients of a traditional chicken lasagna in a one-pot meal that comes together in less than an hour.
The lasagna soup uses gluten-free lasagna noodles along with minced chicken, tomatoes, onion, garlic, and other spices. For a shortcut, you can chop up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store for a rich roasted chicken flavor.
10. Cauliflower Lasagna
This cauliflower-based lasagna at Suncake Mom isn’t the easiest lasagna to assemble on this list, but rest assured that it’s well worth the effort to put together.
The key to getting a good texture on the riced cauliflower in this dish is squeezing all of the moisture out of it with a cheesecloth before mixing in the other ingredients.
11. Chicken Sausage Ricotta Zucchini Rolls
Here’s another gluten-free lasagna recipe from Simmer and Sauce that uses zucchini slices in place of traditional wheat-based noodles. The inclusion of lean chicken sausage also makes it a calorie-friendly lasagna compared to the varieties with beef and fatty pork.
If you don’t like gluten-free lasagna noodles, leaving out the noodles entirely is an option that can help you keep things light, too.
12. Spaghetti Squash Lasagna
This spaghetti squash based lasagna at Food Faith Fitness uses spaghetti squash in a traditional casserole style lasagna rather than using the stuffed squash as boats.
Lowfat cheese and meatless marinara keep this lasagna light on calories, but rich in flavor. The layer of fresh basil leaves on the surface of the lasagna help give it a picture-perfect look.
13. Grain-Free Lasagna
Another way to keep gluten-free lasagnas light other than replacing the noodles is to include a lighter protein. Chicken is often used, but another option is ground turkey.
This grain-free lasagna at Siete Foods combines ground turkey with a cashew cheese sauce for a gluten-free and dairy-free lasagna that is a good option for those with dietary restrictions.
14. Summer Vegetable Lasagna
Gluten-free lasagnas can be just as creamy and decadent as traditional lasagnas. The summer vegetable lasagna at Culinary Postcards achieves this by including a delicious bechamel sauce to bind everything together.
The useful thing about this lasagna recipe is that you can easily include additional vegetables and ingredients to customize it to your tastes.
15. Gluten-Free Skillet Cheese Lasagna Roll-Ups
The gluten-free skillet cheese lasagna roll-ups in this recipe at Only Gluten-Free Recipes are a lighter take on a traditional cheese-based lasagna, and the roll-up structure makes them look gorgeous in the pan.
The key to this skillet lasagna is the fresh ingredients it includes like tomatoes, bell peppers, and herbs. This gives the lasagna a bright flavor even though it contains rich ingredients too.
16. Nearly Vegan Lasagna
This vegan lasagna includes gluten-free noodles to make it a grain-free option as well. The only ingredient that keeps this lasagna at Kaimo Eats from being completely vegan is the inclusion of an egg as a binder.
To keep things meatless, use a hot Italian vegan sausage. However, if you’re only trying to keep things gluten-free, you could substitute real cheese and sausage for the vegan varieties.
17. Gluten-Free Vegan Lentil Lasagna
Here is another gluten-free lasagna at From the Comfort of My Bowl that also happens to be vegan. Using lentils as a key ingredient makes this lasagna sauce thick and satisfying.
The lasagna also includes spinach for a dose of fresh vegetables and sausage for extra flavor. With the meaty mouthfeel of this casserole, you won’t even miss the noodles and meat.
18. Butternut Savoy Cabbage Lasagna
If you want a lasagna with a different set of flavors than the traditional meat, cheese, and marinara sauce, try out this butternut savoy cabbage lasagna at The Good Eats Company.
The key to success with this recipe is slicing the squash and cabbage as thinly as possible, and also using whole milk ricotta. Using lowfat ricotta will result in a lasagna with a watery texture.
19. Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna Beef and Shells
If you can’t be bothered to put your lasagna together in layers, you can still achieve the same flavor profile by using other types of pasta in your Instant Pot.
This lazy lasagna beef and shells recipe at Get Inspired Everyday! has all the best flavors of lasagna with none of the assembly.
Using gluten-free noodles makes this a great one-pot dish to throw together for a fast supper. The sauce also freezes well, so you can make it ahead separately and then reheat to use it when you need it.
20. Vegan Eggplant Lasagna
The vegan eggplant lasagna at Diabetic Vegan is gluten-free because it replaces the noodles in wheat-based lasagnas with slices of eggplant.
If prepared properly, eggplant has a nice neutral texture and flavor that pairs well with traditional lasagna ingredients like cheese and marinara. To keep things vegan, this lasagna uses tofu in place of cheese to achieve a ricotta-like texture.
Easy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe
Gluten-free lasagna may seem like a complicated meal to prepare, but once you have your ingredients together it’s fairly simple.
This easy gluten-free lasagna recipe from Meaningful Eats is a good practice lasagna to hone your lasagna-building skills with. It uses oven-ready lasagna noodles as a time-saver along with parmesan cheese, ground beef, and some other delicious ingredients.
This recipe results in a traditional-tasting lasagna you won’t even be able to tell is gluten-free.
Cheese Mixture
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon black or white pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
Lasagna/Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 diced white onion
- 28 ounce bottle of jarred tomato basil pasta sauce
- 29 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 10 ounces of gluten-free oven ready lasagna noodles
Once you have your ingredients together, follow these steps to create and cook a delicious gluten-free lasagna:
Step 1: Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 425. Grease a 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish or lasagna pan and side aside.
Step 2: Make your cheese mixture
Combine the cottage cheese, ricotta, eggs, pepper, parsley, and all but one cup of the mozzarella. (Reserve one cup of mozzarella for topping the lasagna before cooking.)
Step 3: Fry the meat and onions
Brown the ground beef in a pan with the diced onions, breaking up the beef as it cooks so there are no large pieces.
Drain the fat from the meat-and-onion mixture, then return it to the pan and pour the pasta sauce over it. Stir to combine and heat through until bubbling, then reduce heat.
Step 4: Assemble the lasagna
Starting with a layer of sauce on the bottom of the pan, dip the lasagna noodles in the sauce before laying them across the bottom of the pan in a layer of five noodles.
Add a layer of the cheese mixture, dolloping it onto the noodles before adding a layer of sauce and another layer of noodles. Repeat this process until the lasagna pan is filled.
Step 5: Cook the lasagna
Cover the lasagna pan with aluminum foil and bake covered for forty minutes. After forty minutes, remove the foil and add the reserved cup of mozzarella to the top of the lasagna before returning it to the oven.
Bake for an additional five minutes or until the cheese on the top of the lasagna is golden brown. Allow the lasagna to rest for twenty minutes until serving.
Gluten-Free Lasagna FAQ
Where to Buy Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles?
Gluten-free noodles are easy to find in online markets such as Amazon. They’re also available at many major grocery store chains.
Do Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles Taste Different?
Depending on which brand you buy or what fresh pasta recipe you follow, gluten-free lasagna noodles can taste different in texture than regular noodles.
However, many commercial brands of gluten-free noodles have been designed to closely mimic traditional noodles in mouthfeel.
Higher-quality brands of gluten-free noodles are almost indistinguishable from regular noodles. Many tasters in blind taste tests could not tell the difference between the two.
Is Gluten-Free Lasagna Healthier Than Regular Lasagna?
Unless you’re following a strict gluten-free diet for medical reasons, gluten-free lasagna isn’t necessarily healthier than regular lasagna.
Some gluten-free lasagnas can have up to 25% more calories and carbohydrates than regular lasagnas. Gluten-free lasagnas can also be full of fatty ingredients like meat and cheese.
You can make gluten-free lasagna healthier by making the following changes:
- Go meatless. A meatless gluten-free lasagna will be much lighter in calories and saturated fats than a meat-based variety.
- Add vegetables. Adding more vegetables to a gluten-free lasagna can make it healthier, but it’s a good idea to saute the vegetables before adding them to the mixture to keep the lasagna from getting watery.
- Replace noodles with sliced vegetables. Zucchini that is sliced thinly makes a good substitute for noodles in a lasagna recipe. Sliced eggplant is also a healthy substitute.
Who Sells Gluten-Free Lasagna?
If you aren’t interested in making your own fresh gluten-free lasagna noodles, dried gluten-free noodles are readily available at the following grocery store chains:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Target
Conclusion
For those who are finding a transition to a gluten-free lifestyle difficult, gluten-free lasagna is a delicious way to indulge in some comfort food while also following a grain-free diet. Hopefully, the guide above will give you plenty of inspiration for building your own gluten-free lasagnas.
