Lasagna Recipe Without Ricotta Cheese

This lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese is savory, and even better than lasagna made with ricotta. Add this lasagna recipe to your menu!

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Some recipes are on repeat in our house, and this is one of them. In fact I like to always have this lasagna recipe prepped and in the freezer for busy times here on the homestead. I don’t mind ricotta cheese, but my mother did not, and so this is the style of lasagna I grew up eating. I now use greek yogurt for my family because I like the protein boost.

If you are out of ricotta cheese, or are looking for alternatives because it isn’t your favorite, I hope you love this family favorite!

Tools you’ll need to make lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese

• Cheese grater
• 13×9 glass baking dish

Ingredients you’ll need to make lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese

• 1 lb ground beef, lamb, or turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp caused red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp fennel seed
• 32 oz pasta sauce
• 16 oz greek yogurt
• 1 egg
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 8 lasagna noodles
• Freshly chopped parsley (optional)

How to make lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese

Lasagna Meat sauce:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
2. Start by browning ground meat over medium heat in a large pan. If you are working with a fattier meat, drain the fat once the meat is browned.
3. Add the diced onion to the browned meat still in the pan, the garlic powder, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and fennel seed. Let the onions and the spiced cook with the meat until the onions are fragrant, about 2 minutes.
4. Slowly add the pasta sauce to the pan. To get the sauce stuck to the jar rim, fill the jar with about 1/4 cup of water, put the lid back on tightly, and shake the jar. Add remaining sauce to the jar. (This little bit of extra liquid will help the noodles cook.)
5. Put a lid on the sauce and turn down to low heat while you prepare the ricotta mixture.

Ricotta substitute:

1. Add the greek yogurt, egg, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese to a small bowl.
2. With a fork, mix together the all of the ingredients until the cheese and egg are evenly incorporated.

Assemble and bake:

1. To assemble add a very thin layer of sauce to the bottom of a 13×9. This will ensure that the bottom noodles will cook.
2. Add your first layer of lasagna noodles, then spread evenly half of ricotta mixture over the noodles.
3. Next add half of the meat sauce, and half the cheese (except the parmesan, save that for the top!)
4. Repeat again for your second layer. (Noodle, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, cheese.)
5. Then top the entire lasagna with the parmesan.
6. Bake in a 400 F oven for 20-30 minutes. Start checking at 20 minutes. The top should be golden brown and the noodles cooked all the way through.

Serve:

1. Let the lasagna rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
2. Use a metal spatula to make even squares of lasagna
3. If desired, garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese tips

• Choose the ground meat that you have on hand. Ground beef is a classic, but this recipe is also great with ground turkey or lamb!
• Let the spices cook with the onion and meat before adding the sauce, they will become fragrant and toasty.
• Swap the greek yogurt for sour cream. Both makes great substitutions for the ricotta.
• Check on you lasagna in the last 10 minutes of baking.
• Let the lasagna sit for at least 10 minutes before cutting. This will help it stay into nice pretty slices.

Serving suggestions

This recipe can be served all on it’s own but there are some sides that make it a complete meal and extra special!

• Serve with steamed or roasted veggies. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots are all great options.
• A salad with garlic bread make great sides to any pasta dish.
• I nice red wine fancies this meal up a bit.

Variations

• Add mushrooms, olives, or other vegetables to the meat sauce when you add the onions.
• Slice up some pepperoni and add it to the browned meat
• Add some thawed, drained, and squeezed frozen spinach to the yogurt mixture to make a “spinach ricotta.”
• Opt for all mozzarella or other cheeses you like.
• If you have fresh basil that would make an excellent addition.

Commonly asked questions 

What can I use instead of ricotta cheese in lasagna?

To substitute ricotta cheese in lasagna, simply mix 2 cups of greek yogurt, 1 egg, and 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Mix these ingredients well until they resemble ricotta cheese. Layer this mixture on the lasagna noodles as you would ricotta.

Is lasagna good without ricotta cheese?

Yes! There are many ricotta substitutes. The best is to mix 2 cups of greek yogurt, 1 egg, and 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a bowl. This will allow you to have that classic lasagna flavor without using ricotta cheese.

How to make lasagna a freezer meal?

Lasagna is best frozen before baking. Simply assemble the lasagna, and wrap the pan in foil

What can I use in place of ricotta cheese?

Use 2 cups of greek yogurt, 1 egg, and 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese in a bowl mixed together in place of ricotta cheese. This will give a similar flavor without that grainy texture that ricotta cheese is known for.

Can I use cream cheese instead of ricotta?

Cream cheese is not a good substitute for ricotta cheese since it comes out denser. Ricotta has a light fluffiness when used in recipes like lasagna. Cream cheese melts and is a heavier texture.

Can you freeze dry lasagna?

Yes lasagna freeze dries well. It does best when made or cut into single layer rather than a double or triple layer. This will allow the lasagna to fit onto the freeze dryer tray and freeze dry more evenly.

Related articles:

Home Canned Tomatoes

Lamb Goulash

How to make freeze dried cheese

Lamb Meatloaf

How to Make Freeze Dried Basil + Free Printable

Garlic Scape Focaccia Bread

Yield: 8 servings

Lasagna Recipe without Ricotta Cheese

Print

This lasagna recipe without ricotta cheese is savory, and even better than lasagna made with ricotta. Add this lasagna recipe to your menu!

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, lamb, or turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 Tbsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp caused red pepper flakes
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp fennel seed
• 32 oz pasta sauce
• 16 oz greek yogurt
• 1 egg
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 cups shredded cheddar
• 1/2 cup parmesan
• 8 lasagna noodles
• Freshly chopped parsley (optional)

Instructions

Meat sauce:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
   
2. Start by browning ground meat over medium heat in a large pan. If you are working with a fattier meat, drain the fat once the meat is browned.
   
3. Add the diced onion to the browned meat still in the pan, the garlic powder, red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and fennel seed. Let the onions and the spiced cook with the meat until the onions are fragrant, about 2 minutes.
   
4. Slowly add the pasta sauce to the pan. To get the sauce stuck to the jar rim, fill the jar with about 1/4 cup of water, put the lid back on tightly, and shake the jar. Add remaining sauce to the jar. (This little bit of extra liquid will help the noodles cook.)
   
5. Put a lid on the sauce and turn down to low heat while you prepare the ricotta mixture.

Ricotta Substitute Mixture:

1. Add the greek yogurt, egg, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese to a small bowl.
2. With a fork, mix together the all of the ingredients until the cheese and egg are evenly incorporated.

Assemble and Bake:

1. To assemble add a very thin layer of sauce to the bottom of a 13x9. This will ensure that the bottom noodles will cook.
   
2. Add your first layer of lasagna noodles, then spread evenly half of ricotta mixture over the noodles.
   
3. Next add half of the meat sauce, and half the cheese (except the parmesan, save that for the top!)
   
4. Repeat again for your second layer. (Noodle, ricotta mixture, meat sauce, cheese.)
   
5. Then top the entire lasagna with the parmesan.
   
6. Bake in a 400 F oven for 20-30 minutes. Start checking at 20 minutes. The top should be golden brown and the noodles cooked all the way through.

Serve:

1. Let the lasagna rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
   
2. Use a metal spatula to make even squares of lasagna
   
3. If desired, garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

• Add mushrooms, olives, or other vegetables to the meat sauce when you add the onions.
  
• Slice up some pepperoni and add it to the browned meat
  
• Add some thawed, drained, and squeezed frozen spinach to the yogurt mixture to make a "spinach ricotta."
  
• Opt for all mozzarella or other cheeses you like.
  
• If you have fresh basil that would make an excellent addition.

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