If you like recipes that are quick to prepare and flavor-packed, you will fall in love with this hearty Veggie Lasagna. It is the perfect way to incorporate garden-fresh produce into a luscious cheesy one-dish meal. This mouthwatering, one-dish wonder will have your family clamoring for seconds, time and again. All it takes to make it gluten-free is to substitute traditional pasta for your favorite gluten-free brand!

If you love cheesy recipes loaded with veggies, you will go wild for this meatless lasagna. It is pure comfort food and one of the best ways that I have found to sneak vegetables into the kid's diet.
I use Slow Cooker Marinara that I make ahead and keep in the freezer, but you could use jarred pasta sauce just as easily!
Combined with fresh gluten-free lasagna noodles, I've got a meal that is satisfying and delicious. (If you aren't gluten-free, you can substitute regular lasagna noodles!)
This gluten free lasagna recipe is one my family loved from the first bite!
Reader review
"The Best!! I have made it many times and it’s always a huge hit. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!!" —Iris
Looking for more lasagna recipe inspiration? Don't miss my Crockpot Lasagna Soup, Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna, and my Slow Cooker Lasagna with Ricotta.
Let's Talk Ingredients
I use fresh chopped spinach because it’s what I usually have on hand, but frozen works just as well once thawed and squeezed dry.
Ricotta keeps this creamy—I’ve tested full-fat, part-skim, and even vegan versions, and all work. Cottage cheese is a solid backup. (But if you want to go that route, check out my Cottage Cheese Lasagna.)
Freshly grated Parmesan adds the best flavor. Skip the canned stuff, and if you’re keeping it vegetarian, check that it’s rennet-free.
Part-skim mozzarella melts perfectly without making the lasagna watery. I save fresh mozzarella for the top layer only.
I use gluten-free frozen lasagna noodles—they taste great and skip the boiling step. If you’re using dried pasta, boil it in salted water with a drizzle of oil first.
Variations
- Use Eggplant or Summer Squash in place of the zucchini. Carrot and bell pepper can also be added.
- Use a Creamy Tomato Sauce in place of traditional pasta sauce.
- Want to add some meat? You could easily add browned ground beef (or plant based crumbles) to the marinara before adding it to the veggie lasagna.
Gluten Free Vegan Lasagna
Vegan? Use vegan ricotta and Daiya shreds. Omit the egg. (No need to substitute anything in its place.).
Kite Hill has a fabulous dairy-free ricotta.
Make it Keto/ Low Carb
Make sure all of your cheeses are full fat, and the marinara is sugar-free. This Keto Marinara is fabulous. Omit the lasagna noodles and use zucchini in place of it.
To do this, use a mandolin, food processor, or very sharp knife to cut zucchini into ribbons.
Bake the ribbons in a 350-degree oven for 5 minutes, and then transfer to paper towels to absorb extra moisture. Use the prepared zucchini ribbons in place of the lasagna.
Making Ahead and Freezing
You can make this gluten free vegetarian lasagna recipe up to one day ahead of time and cook it when you are ready to serve. Leftovers will keep for about three days.
You can freeze gluten free vegetable lasagna, but if you do, I recommend leaving the zucchini off. It just doesn't freeze well.
Serving Suggestions
- Rosemary Focaccia
- Italian Chopped Salad
- Simple Garden Salad
Frequently Asked Questions
What Vegetables are Good In Lasagna?
There are so many vegetables that work! You can saute red pepper, onions, and mushrooms and add any of them to your lasagna.
Zucchini, spinach, squash, and eggplant are other great options.
Do I Have to Cook Spinach Before Putting it in Lasagna?
Yes, you need to cook spinach before you put it in your lasagna.
When you cook spinach, it releases a tremendous amount of liquid. Putting raw spinach into a casserole will make it watery.
Step By Step
For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card below.
Cook Your Vegetables If you do not wish to cook the zucchini, you can salt it well and let it drain on paper towels. Blot well. (You do need to cook the spinach.)



Make The Cheese and Spinach Mixture Combine ricotta, Parmesan, egg, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and cooked spinach.
Spray the Baking Dish Dish Place ½ cup marinara on the bottom.


Layer Top with a layer of noodles, a layer of zucchini,½ of the cheese mixture, and mozzarella.
Repeat Layers Top with a layer of noodles, a layer of zucchini,½ of the ricotta mixture, and mozzarella.
Bake and allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

Gluten-Free Vegetarian Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 pound zucchini trimmed and sliced thin lengthwise
- 9 ounces fresh spinach chopped
- 24 ounces ricotta cheese
- 3 ounces parmesan rennet free (vegetarian)
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¼ cup fresh basil
- ¼ cup fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 24 ounces marinara
- 12 ounces part-skim mozzrella
- 12 ounces lasagna noodles gluten free, cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- Heat a skillet to medium heat and spray with oil. Season zucchini strips with salt and pepper. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. (The cooking time will vary according to how thinly you slice your zucchini.) Remove from heat and set aside.
- Spray the pan again and add the spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts. Transfer to a plate lined with a clean towel and squeeze out excess moisture.
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, Parmesan, egg, garlic, basil, parsley and crushed red pepper. Stir in spinach and season with salt and pepper.
- Coat a 13 x 9 casserole dish with cooking spray and spread ½ cup of the Marinara on the bottom.
- Top with a layer of noodles, a layer of zucchini, ½ of the ricotta mixture and mozzarella.
- Spread ⅓ of the remaining marinara and repeat the layers.
- End with a layer of noodles, marinara and remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes prior to serving.







Cheryl Sink says
Can this be made the day before and then baked? Not sure how the zucchini would hold up.
Wendy Polisi says
Yes, it can! The photo was actually done that way.
Julie says
Can i make this and refrigerate a day in advance of baking it?
Sophia says
Wendy, thank you for this amazing lasagna! Very yammy, took it in my recipes book)
Denise says
This is delicious!!! My family likes spinach and zucchini but if your family doesn't you can hardly tell its there. It just tastes like yummy cheese lasagna. Very good!
Wendy Polisi says
I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Tina says
Hi. Can this be made with gluten free oven ready lasagne noodles? Appreciate your reply.
Thanks
Wendy Polisi says
I've never tried them but there is no reason why it wouldn't work!
Anita says
Yes, I just made this today with the oven ready gluten-free (no cooking) lasagne noodles and this recipe was a big big hit !! The lasagna noodles were perfect for a celiac, and this recipe is absolutely delicious !!!!
Megan LaFond says
Are you able to make this recipe and then freeze it for a later time?
Wendy Polisi says
Yes, absolutely. Lasagna freezes great.
Alina says
Can the egg be left out? Or a substitute due to allergies.
Wendy Polisi says
You could leave it out!
Lisa Kozlowski says
Several months ago my daughter made a lifestyle change for health reasons and is now eating vegetarian. Lucky for me I live right next door to her and most nights she brings me a sampling of her latest vegetarian dinner. I have to say this meal the vegetarian lasagna was amazing. I would absolutely give it a thumbs up rating.
Wendy Polisi says
So glad that you enjoyed it!
Margaret says
Worried about it being watery with zucchini, how can you prevent this. Is it better next day?
Kai says
Do you have to put an egg in the ricotta mixture?
Wendy Polisi says
No, you could leave it out if you don't like/have eggs. (Or have an allergy.)
Maia Wagner says
This was seriously the best lasagna I have ever had and I will be making it for years! I added mushrooms and used cream cheese since I couldn't get any ricotta. It was super creamy and worked really well. Thank you so much for the delicious recipe!
Wendy Polisi says
I am so glad that you enjoyed it! I have never tried cream cheese in lasagna and now think I need to!
Kim says
This was fantastic! My 1 year old ate a full portion! I left out some of the red pepper so it wouldn’t be too spicy for him and didn’t cook the zucchini because I wanted it a bit firm but did blot it like the recipe stated. It was still a little watery even after cooking the spinach and ringing it out. Any ideas on how to make it less watery for next time?? Such a great recipe. Thank you!
Wendy Polisi says
The purpose of cooking the zucchini is to draw the water out so it isn't in the casserole. You could also salt it and let it sit on paper towels for 30 minutes or so.
Gloria says
This was delicious!!! I will definitely make this again! Only thing I did differently was to add a layer of fresh basil leaves to each of the first and second layers. This is my go to lasagna recipe from now on!
Wendy Polisi says
So glad you enjoyed it! I love adding basil when I have it - and right now my plants are huge.
Karen Baric says
Hi Wendy,
I found your recipe while searching for a gluten free dinner. My son's father in law is newly gluten intolerant and he has having dinner with us. He said not to worry, or go to any trouble -- he'd just munch on something! But I was determined to make something that he'd enjoy without worry.
I was able to find ALL gluten free ingredients. He loved it!
I wanted to make it hardy so I added red pepper and mushrooms.
This was delicious & super easy!
Thanks so much - I'll definitely be making this again!
Karen
Wendy Polisi says
I am so glad that you all enjoyed it! I love the addition of red pepper and mushrooms.
Madelyn says
Do the noodles have to be cooked before? Or can you put raw noodles in then bake it?
Wendy Polisi says
I cook them before I put them in the casserole. I haven't tried it with raw noodles.
Brenda says
I use raw noodles but I add extra sauce to the bottom, top, and middle. It works well and saves time and a pot. Lovely recipe. Thank you!
Justine says
Is this good for making ahead & freezing? Trying to plan postpartum freezer meals! I made this last night & it is amazing!!!
Wendy Polisi says
First, congrats on the baby! It is definitely good for freezing, but zucchini doesn't freeze well so I would probably leave that out.