Print

The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe

The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe
Print Recipe

★★★★★

5.2 from 17 reviews

This easy healthy lasagna recipe combines lean ground beef, fresh zucchini and summer squash, and a flavorful tomato sauce with cottage cheese and mozzarella for a lighter take on the classic Italian favorite. Oven-ready noodles make preparation quick and hassle-free, while layers of cheese and veggies provide hearty satisfaction. It’s a delicious and nutritious meal perfect for family dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Vegetables

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1/2 cup diced onion (chopped)
  • 2 cups finely diced zucchini (about 2 small or 1 medium/large zucchini)
  • 1 cup finely diced summer squash (about 1 medium/large summer squash)

Tomato Sauce

  • 1 15-ounce can whole tomatoes (2 cups, or crushed if preferred)
  • 1 10-ounce can tomato sauce (1 1/4 cups)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cheese and Pasta

  • 6 ounces uncooked, oven-ready lasagna noodles (about 8 noodles)
  • 16 ounces low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the lasagna.
  2. Cook Onion & Ground Beef: In a large pan with high sides over medium-high heat, cook the chopped onion and lean ground beef together until the beef is fully cooked, about 10 minutes.
  3. Dice Zucchini & Squash: While the beef is cooking, dice the zucchini and summer squash into small cubes about 1/4″ to 1/2″ in size.
  4. Drain Beef: Once the beef is cooked through, drain excess fat and set it aside.
  5. Cook Zucchini & Squash: In the same pan, cook the diced zucchini and summer squash for 7-10 minutes until tender.
  6. Add Tomatoes, Sauce, & Spices: Add the whole tomatoes, tomato sauce, garlic powder, salt, parsley, basil, oregano, and pepper into the pan with the cooked vegetables.
  7. Cook Sauce: Continue cooking the tomato sauce mixture over medium heat for another 7-10 minutes, stirring frequently to break down the whole tomatoes with a spatula and combine flavors.
  8. Add Beef & Onions Back In: Return the cooked ground beef and onions to the sauce mixture and stir thoroughly.
  9. Pour Sauce Into Casserole Dish: Pour about one-quarter of the tomato sauce mixture into a 9×13-inch casserole dish to form the base layer.
  10. Add Noodles: Arrange 4 oven-ready lasagna noodles over the sauce layer.
  11. Add More Sauce: Pour another one-quarter of the sauce mixture evenly over the noodles.
  12. Add Cottage Cheese: Spread half of the low-fat cottage cheese over the sauce layer.
  13. Add Parmesan & Mozzarella: Sprinkle half of the shredded parmesan and mozzarella cheeses evenly over the cottage cheese.
  14. Repeat Layers: Repeat the layering process with the remaining noodles, sauce, cottage cheese, parmesan, and mozzarella until all ingredients are used.
  15. Cover & Bake: Cover the casserole dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
  16. Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes to brown the cheese and allow bubbling.
  17. Cool & Serve: Let the lasagna cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm. Enjoy your healthy, delicious meal!

Notes

  • You can substitute crushed tomatoes if you prefer a smoother sauce texture.
  • Oven-ready lasagna noodles save time as they do not require boiling before assembly.
  • Feel free to add extra vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for added nutrition.
  • If you want a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with lentils or a plant-based meat alternative.
  • For a lower sodium version, reduce the added salt or use low-sodium canned tomatoes and sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: healthy lasagna, easy lasagna recipe, low-fat lasagna, baked pasta dish, Italian comfort food

Find it online: https://servedbynora.com/the-best-easy-healthy-lasagna-recipe/