Cozy up with a slice of the best gluten free turkey lasagna. Made with only 5 main ingredients, it's the perfect comforting meal to prepare for family and friends.
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Homemade Turkey Lasagna
I grew up on my mom's homemade lasagna and consistently revert to some sort of lasagna when I'm in need of a comforting weeknight meal to whip up fast.
This turkey lasagna has been my go-to lasagna recipe for years due to it's tastiness, simplicity, and no-fuss ingredients. Many lasagnas call for ground beef and/or Italian sausage and may use a homemade marinara sauce. Because I'm always looking for a healthier option that takes less time, we use ground turkey in this recipe to light things up a bit and use my favorite store bought marinara sauce.
It's quick to prepare, requires minimal clean up, and results in an utterly divine lasagna the entire family will love that also freezes well!
Gluten free Lasagna Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground Turkey - The meat used in this lasagna. You can use either white or dark meat. I recommend using a fat content of above 90% for best results.
- Marinara - To keep things very simple, I use a store bought marina sauce. Of course, you are welcome to make your own homemade marina if you prefer.
- Lasagna noodles - I used a gluten free brand. Make sure your noodles are no boil which allows them to be used in the lasagna raw.
- Ricotta - Whole milk ricotta will provide a richer flavor but you can use part-skim if you want to cut back on some of the fat. Use a dairy free ricotta if desired.
- Mozzarella cheese - This goes on top of the lasagna to add a nice blanket of melty cheese on top and helps hold the lasagna together. You can use a dairy free version if you prefer.
How to Make Ground Turkey Lasagna
You will need a square baking dish and a skillet to cook the meat in for this recipe.
Step 1 : Cook the onions and garlic. In a skillet, heat up the olive oil and sautee the onions until soft then add the garlic and stir to incorporate.
Step 2 : Brown the meat. Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until brown all the way through.
Step 3 : Add the marinara. Pour the marinara sauce over the turkey and stir to combine. Allow the mixture to cook until warm.
Step 4 : Assemble the lasagna. Take ⅓ of the meat sauce and spread it along the bottom of the baking dish. Lay the lasagna noodles on top followed by another ⅓ of the meat sauce.
Spread the ricotta cheese on top of the meat sauce into an even later.
Top with another layer of lasagna noodles followed by the remaining ⅓ of the the meat sauce. Finish off the lasagna with a blanket of mozzarella cheese and parmesan, if desired.
Step 5 : Bake! Cook the lasagna in the oven covered in aluminum foil and finish the cooking process uncovered to allow the cheese to melt on top.
One of the most important steps is to allow the lasagna to set until cutting into it.
Turkey Lasagna Variations
- Cook down some spinach or diced zucchini to the meat sauce for extra veggies.
- Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the meat sauce or use a spicy marinara sauce for some heat.
- Add ½ pound Italian sausage or chorizo to the meat sauce.
- Stir in ½ cup pumpkin into the meat sauce with a teaspoon of sage for a fall twist on the dish.
How to Store
The lasagna can be stored either sliced or unsliced.
To store it unsliced, allow the lasagna to cool down completely then cover the dish well with plastic wrap or an airtight lid and store in the fridge or freezer.
Store cooled slices of lasagna in an airtight container either in the fridge or freezer.
It will keep for up to 5 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. When ready to enjoy, reheat the lasagna from the fridge in the microwave in 20 second intervals until warm.
Reheat unsliced lasagna in the oven at 350 for 10 - 20 minutes until the cheese is melted on top and it's warm all the way through.
Can I Make Lasagna Ahead of Time?
Yes, lasagna is actually one of the easiest meals to prepare ahead of time for an easy meal to have no hand for later.
Prepare the recipe as directed and assemble the lasagna in a freezer friendly baking dish or a disposable dish. Make sure there is an airtight lid or wrap it up well with plastic wrap. Store it in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to enjoy, bake the lasagna in the oven as directed. If it's frozen, cook the lasagna frozen and allow another 10 - 15 minutes for it to cook in the oven.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to break up the ground meat into small pieces which will make the lasagna easier to slice when cooked.
- Cover the lasagna noodles well with the meat sauce and cheese and don't leave them uncovered. This is how the noodles will cook in the oven.
- Try not to overfill the dish. Because the lasagna cooks covered in aluminum foil, you don't want a mound of cheese on top which will stick to the foil.
- Let the lasagna set for at least 20 minutes before cutting into it. The cheese layers in the lasagna need some time to fully set after it comes out of the oven. This is what holds the lasagna together so it's important to give it some time before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, most lasagna recipes will have you cook the dish covered. This prevents the cheese on top from overcooking and allows the meat and the noodles to warm up and cook slowly.
While you can cook lasagna in either glass or metal, glass is generally preferred for cooking as it gradually warms up and holds a hot temperature for longer out of the oven.
Yes, there are various different gluten free lasagna sheets. I used these brown rice lasagna sheets which worked well in this recipe.
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Recipe
The Best Gluten Free Turkey Lasagna
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ onion - diced (about 1 cup)
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 cups Rao’s Marinara - or marinara of choice
- Gluten free lasagna noodles - about 4 large sheets
- 16 oz ricotta cheese - part-skim or whole milk
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan - optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat with the diced onions. Cook the onions until soft and translucent.3 tablespoon olive oil, ½ onion
- Add the minced garlic and cook with the onions until soft.2 garlic cloves
- Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until brown all the way through. This can take 3 - 5 minutes.1 lb ground turkey
- Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and continue to cook until simmering. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.2 cups Rao’s Marinara
- Spoon about ⅓ of the meat sauce into the bottom of an 8 x 8 square baking dish and spread into an even layer. Layer the lasagna noodles on top to cover the sauce and then spread half of the remaining sauce over the noodles. Spread the ricotta cheese over the meat sauce into a thick layer (it will soften up and become easier to spread as it heats up next to the sauce). Place another layer of lasagna noodles on top followed by the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over top into an even layer and add the parmesan cheese, if desired, on top as well.Gluten free lasagna noodles, 16 oz ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan
- Place a piece of aluminum foil over top and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.
- Remove the aluminum foil and bake in the oven for another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted on top.
- Let the lasagna set for at least 20 minutes before slicing into pieces and enjoy!
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