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Looking for the best vegetarian lasagna recipe? You're in the right place. This Butternut Squash and Spinach lasagna will become one of your favorites! This lasagna is stuffed with vegetables and combines Ricotta, Parmesan, and Mozzarella cheeses to create the ultimate Fall and Winter comfort food.
This delicious veggie lasagna recipe is healthy, meatless, gluten-free friendly, and perfect for the Fall and Winter season. Because it uses butternut squash, it's a great choice as a holiday vegetarian main dish or just a holiday recipe. It's so good, it's popular with kids!
To me, this is a great recipe to make any time of year, but because this lasagna has butternut squash, it is surely a good holiday veggie main dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's Eve.
This vegetarian recipe uses butternut squash puree, which you can easily make by following my easy step-by-step tutorial: how to make butternut squash puree. Or, you can always buy pureed butternut squash at the store.
I also want to warn you that this is my most photo-intensive post yet with lots of step-by-step photos which I think are quite helpful to make this delicious vegetarian lasagna. So, if you want to go directly to the bottom of this post - just scroll down.
Cooking tips
- Use cooked lasagna noodles. Bring a large pot of water to boil, cook the noodles al dente, rinse each noodle with cold water and drain. This will guarantee the perfect texture!
- Make this vegetarian lasagna gluten-free! Use brown rice gluten-free lasagna noodles and follow all the recipe instructions as-is.
- For butternut squash filling, make your own butternut squash puree from scratch or use a store-bought version.
- Here is a great tutorial on how to cook fresh spinach - this recipe uses lemon juice and lemon juice which will pair well with the butternut squash, but you can also skip the lemon and/or lemon zest if you don't like it.
- No boil lasagna noodles. You can use no-boil lasagna noodles with this recipe! You might need to add about ½ cup of milk or water or vegetable stock to the squash purée, in addition to the milk called for in the recipe. (Thank you, Debbie, for your great tip!) You might also have to bake the lasagna for 10 extra minutes.
- Make this lasagna vegan. Use vegan Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses, then make vegan ricotta out of tofu and lemon juice using this recipe. (Thank you, Laura, for this wonderful tip!)
- Don't like vegetarian and want protein or meat? No problem. Add rotisserie chicken or cooked crumbled bacon in between lasagna layers.
I also tested this butternut squash and spinach lasagna with gluten-free noodles, and it works great! I used Tinkyada gluten-free brown rice lasagna noodles - almost the whole 10 oz package. So, yes, this recipe is gluten-free friendly, for sure!
Bake this vegetarian lasagna at 375 F covered with foil for the first 30 minutes, then remove foil and bake for additional 10 minutes.
With this delicious meatless vegetable lasagna, you will have no leftovers!
How to make vegetarian butternut squash and spinach lasagna (step-by-step photos):
First, prepare the butternut squash filling. Using a food processor, combine butternut squash puree with Ricotta cheese, milk, salt, and nutmeg. Add more milk if needed (to make the butternut squash filling very creamy). Mix very well, taste, and add more salt, if needed:
Next, make spinach filling by mixing cooked spinach, Ricotta cheese, Mozzarella cheese, minced garlic, salt and pepper:
Prepare a baking dish - I used a casserole dish 11 inches x 8.5 inches x 3 inches deep. Grease the bottom of the baking pan lightly with olive oil spray. Spread ⅓ of butternut squash filling on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle lightly with mozzarella cheese.
Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package instructions, rinse with cold water and drain. Top the first layer of butternut squash mixture with cooked lasagna noodles without overlapping - as you can see I used 3 noodles. Use as many noodles as you need for your baking dish.
Spread half of spinach filling over the cooked noodles.
Top lightly with Mozzarella cheese:
Top with cooked lasagna noodles:
Spread another layer (⅓) of butternut squash mixture:
Sprinkle lightly with Mozzarella cheese:
Top with cooked lasagna noodles:
Spread the remaining half of spinach filling over the noodles. Top lightly with Mozzarella cheese.
Top with the final layer of cooked noodles:
Spread a generous amount of butternut squash filling (the remaining ⅓) over this final layer of noodles:
Sprinkle with grated Parmesan and remaining Mozzarella cheese (about ½ cup of Mozzarella):
Generously sprinkle the cheese with Italian seasoning, paprika, basil:
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 min. Remove foil and bake additional 10 minutes.
Your veggie lasagna is ready!
Recipes with Butternut Squash
Since you're looking at this butternut squash and spinach lasagna, I assume you like butternut squash. Here are a few other delicious recipes using this wonderful ingredient. All these recipes are also vegetarian and meatless.
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
- Black Bean and Butternut Squash Enchilada Casserole
- Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash, Pine Nuts, Caramelized Onions and Feta cheese
Butternut Squash Salads:
- Autumn Salad with Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Seeds
- Butternut Squash Salad with Spinach, Pecans, Cranberries, and Pomegranate
Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
Ingredients
Butternut Squash Filling:
- 2 cups butternut squash puree (about half of squash)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup milk or more, if needed
- ¼ teaspoon salt plus ⅛ teaspoon more
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
Spinach Filling:
- 8 oz spinach (1 cup cooked spinach)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Other Ingredients:
- 10 oz lasagna noodles cooked (for gluten free, use Tinkyada brown rice lasagna noodles)
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese or more
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese on top
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
Butternut Squash Filling:
- For this filling, you will need to have pre-cooked butternut squash puree. Using food processor, combine 2 cups of butternut squash puree with Ricotta cheese, milk, salt and nutmeg. Add more milk if needed (to make the butternut squash filling very creamy). Mix very well, taste and add more salt, if needed.
Spinach Filling:
- Combine cooked spinach, Ricotta cheese, mozzarella, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix, taste, and add more salt and pepper, if needed.
- Note: The recipe I provide for how to cook spinach uses lemon juice and lemon zest which pairs nicely with butternut squash but you don't have to use lemon juice and/or lemon zest if you don't like it.
Cooking lasagna noodles:
- Bring a very large pot of water to boil, and cook lasagna noodles according to package instructions. Rinse in cold water, drain. Using knife, trim noodles to fit your baking dish (if necessary).
How to assemble vegetarian lasagna:
- Prepare a baking dish - I used a casserole dish 11 inches x 8.5 inches x 3 inches deep. Grease the lasagna dish lightly with olive oil spray. Spread ⅓ of butternut squash filling on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle lightly with mozzarella cheese. Top with cooked lasagna noodles without overlapping (I used 3 noodles).
- Spread half of spinach filling over the noodles. Top lightly with Mozzarella cheese. Top with cooked noodles.
- Spread another layer (⅓) of butternut squash mixture, then sprinkle lightly with Mozzarella cheese. Top with cooked noodles.
- Spread the remaining half of spinach filling over the noodles. Top lightly with Mozzarella cheese. Top with the final layer of cooked noodles.
- Spread a generous amount of butternut squash filling (the remaining ⅓) over this final layer of noodles, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and remaining mozzarella cheese (about ½ cup of mozzarella). Generously sprinkle the cheese with Italian seasoning, paprika, basil.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 min. Remove foil and bake additional 10 minutes.
Notes
Make it GLUTEN-FREE
- Use brown rice gluten-free lasagna noodles (or any other kind of GF lasagna noodles) and follow all the recipe instructions as-is.
How to use NO-BOIL LASAGNA NOODLES
- You can use no-boil lasagna noodles with this recipe! You might need to add about ½ cup of milk or water or vegetable stock to the squash purée, in addition to the milk called for in the recipe. (Thank you, Debbie, for your great tip!) You might also have to bake the lasagna for 10 extra minutes.
How to make it VEGAN
- Use vegan Parmesan and Mozzarella cheeses, then make vegan ricotta out of tofu and lemon juice using this recipe. (Thank you, Laura, for this wonderful tip!)
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I’ve made this multiple times and love it each time.
The only thing I do different is add a bit more ricotta to the spinach mixture, but that’s just preference!
Making this for orthodox Christmas Eve.
Sarah, I am so glad you love this recipe - it's a perfect dish for Christmas Eve! Thank you for sharing this feedback and Happy Holidays! 🙂 🙂 🙂
This is a really difficult recipe. Prep time assumes you have already made butternut squash purée and other items.
Becky, this is a somewhat more involved recipe, but it's worth it! And, you can also take a shortcut and use canned 100% pumpkin instead of butternut squash puree.
Can this be made ahead? Or frozen?
Irene, yes, you can make everything ahead up to the very last step where it says "cover with the foil". At that point, you don't have to bake this in the oven - refrigerate it or freeze it. And then bake it when you're ready to serve.
How can I freeze this for future use as it is pretty big. Sounds yummy
Grace, yes, you can easily freeze this. Also, if you make this ahead, you don't have to do the last step (bake it in the oven). Just prepare everything, cover the lasagna with foil, refrigerate or freeze it. Bake it only when you are ready to serve it.
Silly question - but do you have any tips on how to cook the spinach first?
Laura, here is quick recipe for cooking fresh spinach:
https://juliasalbum.com/how-to-cook-fresh-spinach/
Have you tried this with no bake noodles? That's what I typically use. I wonder if it might need more liquid if I use this kind of noodle
Carmin, yes, you can use no-boil lasagna noodles with this recipe! You might need to add about 1/2 cup of milk or water or vegetable stock to the squash purée, in addition to the milk called for in the recipe. You might also have to bake the lasagna for 10 extra minutes. I've had several comments on this recipe using this method successfully.
I’ve made this recipe twice in the past month. I bought cubed butternut squash in a bag in the vegetable section of my grocer. The first time I boiled it, the second time I roasted it in the oven. Either way works fine.
I cannot believe how creamy this dish is! Absolutely heavenly! Yes, there are a lot of steps, but it still is going to be a staple in our house.
I cut the recipe in half and made it in a loaf pan. There are only two of us, and that’s a perfect meal with a bit of leftovers for lunch.
Anne, thank you for this wonderful feedback and the raving 5-star review! 🙂 Finding the peeled and precut butternut squash in the store is such a time-saver! I wished all grocery stores carried that!
Made this tonight. It was amazing! My comments are- needs more spinach filling. Will double the spinach next time. We added a topping of crumbled crisp bacon when serving. Perfect topping. Might try a layer of prosciutto next time. Perfect flavor for this. Will definitely make again. Thanks for sharing!
Megan, I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you for the helpful and positive feedback! 🙂 Doubling the spinach is always a great idea, and adding crumbled bacon or prosciutto sounds delish!
This is a delicious lasagna. I used butternut squash from the garden so it was partly farm to table. I served it on a cold, rainy, fall day so it was the perfect comfort food. I will definitely make it again.
Marcela, thank you for trying this recipe and so glad it was a success! 🙂 So jealous that you have your own garden - it's my dream!
First of all - this is delicious! I made it last year and wrote some notes that I followed when I made it a few days ago. 1. I added an additional cup of squash puree (because I love it) 2. added sautéed onions to the spinach 3. used Barilla oven ready lasagna (put in boiling water for 1 minute to slightly soften.). This is definitely a keeper
Donna, I love your suggestions! 🙂 So helpful and useful to me and others! Love the addition of onions.
This year, due to circumstances and bad luck, I had to spend Thanksgiving alone. I was feeling sorry for myself and decided to make this recipe instead of bothering with a full Thanksgiving feast for one. Wow. Thank you for posting this. The first bite brought a smile to my face and an indecent noise from my mouth. This is amazing. It is easily one of my new favorite recipes. This lasagna turned my whole day around. I used no bake noodles and canned puree and it was so easy and delicious!
Lauren, your comment really made my day! I love reading stories about cooking experiences intertwined with life experiences. Seems like you still had a wonderful Thanksgiving even if it was alone. I had those types of Thanksgiving, too. Watched lots of great movies - and had a great, relaxing time! Kind of liked it! 🙂
If the recipe is made the night before, is it necessary to freeze and thaw? Couldn’t the recipe be made the night before and refrigerate, then bake when needed the very next day?
Martha, yes, you can make the recipe the night before, cover it with an airtight cover, refrigerate and then bake it the next day. No need to freeze for one day or even for 4 days. I would freeze this if you plan to eat it later than 4 days after you made it.
This looks ideal to cook for my vegetarian friend, can you freeze it?
Carly, yes, you can freeze this. You don't need to do the last step - where you bake it in the oven. Freeze it before baking. Thaw overnight in the fridge. And then bake according to the recipe instructions.
@ 375 or 400?
Gretchen, this is baked at 375 F.
Do you think this recipe could be made in a crockpot/slow cooker?
Lynn, I've never tried it in a slow cooker.
Have you had success freezing this lasagna? Any suggestions? I'd like to do any meal prep I can before Thanksgiving.
Sandra, this is a perfect recipe to freeze. Everything is already cooked, the baking portion is just for bringing all the flavors together and warming everything up. You can freeze this, packed airtight. Defrost overnight, and bake in the oven per recipe instructions!
I love this recipe!!! I’m making it for my friend. The first time I made it, I used a casserole dish that was too large so the layers were really thin. It still tasted great though! This time I’m using the size called for in the recipe. I think that is important. You need to try this recipe!!
Missy, thank you for trying this recipe and so glad it was a success! 🙂 Thanks for pointing out the importance of using the baking dish of appropriate size - very helpful to other readers.
If this recipe is doubled what size of pan -would 9 x13 work