The Best Healthy Turkey Lasagna You’ll Ever Eat

HI. It’s me. Your neighborhood healthy consolation makeover woman bringing again one in all my most well-known recipes for you that’s excellent for impressing your loved ones, making your love swoon, comforting a buddy, or simply making ’trigger you freaking love Italian food.

Say HELLO to my more healthy turkey lasagna. She’s a magnificence, isn’t she?

This was my first lasagna recipe on the positioning and I can actually say I really like lasagna greater than every other Italian food. Back throughout my school years, I had asked my mother to make me a spinach and butternut squash lasagna for my birthday meal; it’s nonetheless one in all my favourite meals of all time. I can bear in mind the nice and cozy butternut squash sauce between noodles and tons of mozzarella. (If you haven’t tried my roasted veggie butternut squash lasagna but, that is your signal!)

I beloved the recipe SO a lot that as a substitute of sharing the leftovers with any of my roommates, I reduce the lasagna up into particular person servings, ate it for lunch and dinner for 4 days straight, after which froze the remaining slices in order that I may take pleasure in it once more the next week.

CALL ME THE SELFISH LASAGNA GIRL.

Or wait, really don’t.

Anyways, in case you haven’t made this AK traditional it’s about time you do it up. It’s the most effective vacation meal or consolation food recipe that everybody loves!

What makes this lasagna recipe more healthy?

Just like conventional lasagna recipes, this one is stuffed with taste and scrumptious, tacky layers. I’ve made this lasagna. bit more healthy by utilizing lean floor turkey as a substitute of floor beef

Ingredients on this healthy turkey lasagna

I made a decision I wished to make a traditional model of lasagna however with a turkey meat sauce as a substitute of beef and little inventive twists right here and there. It turned out one million instances higher than I may have ever anticipated, so let’s focus on what’s all concerned:

• Homemade tomato sauce: I wish to make this with a home made tomato basil infused sauce. I take advantage of tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste to thicken. Then I like so as to add Italian seasoning, garlic, oregano, fennel, a touch of pure maple syrup, nutmeg (a secret Italian ingredient). Finally, I stir in recent basil to offer it a good looking, recent and flavorful style. It’s pure love.
• Lean floor turkey: I’m a HUGE fan of floor turkey. It’s simply really easy to make recipes with and I really like the dietary profile. I take advantage of the 94% lean floor turkey, however you would additionally use 99% lean — simply know that it gained’t be as flavorful or moist. Check out different recipes you should use with floor turkey right here.
• Lasagna noodles: I really like to make use of whole wheat lasagna noodles on this recipe for a pleasant enhance of entire grains.
• Fresh basil: Between the layers of noodles isn’t simply cheese and sauce, but in addition recent basil leaves. It provides somewhat one thing particular to the lasagna and will increase the flavour profile.
• CHEESE: Also between the layers of noodles is recent mozzarella cheese, parmesan and creamy ricotta. This additionally contributes to the lasagna taste, so don’t skip the cheese (a wonderful supply of protein!)

Easy methods to customise

This healthy turkey lasagna is scrumptious as-is, however there are a number of easy methods to customise in case you’d like!

• Add a lift of veggies. If you’re trying so as to add some extra veggies to this healthy turkey lasagna, be happy to combine some cooked spinach into the ricotta layer, and even add some mushrooms to that turkey meat sauce!
• Choose your noodles. As I discussed, I like to make use of entire wheat lasagna noodles on this turkey lasagna recipe for a lift of entire grains. However, you should use common lasagna noodles and even gluten free noodles to maintain the lasagna gluten free! I don’t suggest utilizing no-cook noodles as the feel can be completely different. If these are the one noodles you will have, they are going to nonetheless work within the recipe.
• Try a brand new meat. I opted for floor turkey on this lasagna recipe to lighten it up, however you’re welcome to make use of floor beef or perhaps a flavorful, floor turkey sausage.

How to make the most effective turkey lasagna

1. Make the meat sauce. Start by cooking your floor turkey with garlic and onion, then stir in the remainder of the elements for the tomato sauce. Cover and let it simmer on low to thicken up.
2. Cook your noodles. While the sauce is simmering you’ll be able to cook dinner your lasagna noodles till simply al dente.
3. Make the ricotta combination. While the noodles are boiling you’ll be able to combine collectively the ricotta, egg, basil, salt & pepper.
4. Layer your lasagna. Now it’s time to assemble! Spread turkey meat sauce on the underside of a ready baking dish, place lasagna noodles on prime, unfold with the ricotta combination, then prime with basil and mozzarella slices. Add extra meat sauce and parmesan cheese, then repeat the layers as soon as extra.
5. Bake & serve. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake it for about 25 minutes, then take away the foil and bake it for 20 extra. Garnish with further basil & parmesan, cool and serve it up!

Tips for making excellent turkey lasagna

With these tremendous straightforward tips, you’ll have essentially the most scrumptious turkey lasagna each time:

• Don’t overcook the noodles. Make positive to boil the noodles simply till al dente, not absolutely cooked as a result of they’ll cook dinner extra whenever you bake your complete lasagna. Say goodbye to mushy noodles!
• Use room temp ricotta. The ricotta combination is best to combine with room temp elements, so I recommend letting the container of ricotta and the egg sit out a bit to return to room temp.

Make it forward of time

Yes, you’ll be able to simply make this healthy turkey lasagna forward of time! Simply assemble the lasagna fully as directed, cowl and place it within the fridge sooner or later earlier than serving. It’s the right option to save time throughout busy weeks. When you’re able to serve, bake it up as directed and luxuriate in!

How to freeze lasagna: two alternative ways

Another factor I completely love about this meal is that the lasagna is freezer-friendly! There are two strategies to freezing lasagna:

1. Bake first, then freeze. You can both bake it first, then cool to room temperature, slice into servings, place in freezer-safe containers after which freeze. Or you’ll be able to bake it, carry to room temp, after which freeze your complete pan. Just be sure to double wrap it so the lasagna doesn’t dry out. This is assuming you might be freezing your complete pan. Once able to reheat, thaw it out. Then bake, lined at 350 levels F for 30-45 minutes or till heated by.
2. Freeze earlier than baking: To freeze earlier than baking, merely assemble the lasagna as written within the directions, then double wrap with plastic wrap and foil and freeze for as much as 3 months. Once able to bake, thaw out then bake in response to directions.

Personally, I wish to cook dinner mine first, then freeze it in particular person parts so I can take it out for meals as wanted. I simply reheat my serving within the microwave. YUM.

More consolation meals to attempt

Get all of my scrumptious consolation food recipes right here!

I hope you’re keen on this recipe as a lot as we do. It’s nice for events and soccer season too. If you make it, you should definitely tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram and/or depart a remark and charge the recipe under!

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The Best Healthy Turkey Lasagna You’ll Ever Eat

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

ServesServes 12 servings

The BEST turkey lasagna ever. This healthy turkey lasagna recipe is made with a home made tomato basil sauce full of recent herbs & Italian spices, lean floor turkey, mozzarella, creamy ricotta and a contact of parmesan. Perfect for serving crowds, family-style dinners, or freezing for later!

Ingredients

• For the sauce:
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 pound 94% lean floor turkey (or use floor turkey sausage for much more taste!)
• 1 white onion, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup julienned recent basil
• 2 teaspoons italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon pink pepper flakes
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus extra to style
• Freshly floor black pepper
• For the lasagna noodles:
• 10 entire wheat or gluten free lasagna noodles
• For the ricotta combination:
• 1 (15 ounce) container half skim ricotta
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup torn or diced recent basil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Freshly floor black pepper
• For the layers:
• ¼ cup packed recent basil, diced
• 16 ounce recent entire milk mozzarella, shredded
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
• To garnish:
• ¼ cup grated parmesan
• Fresh basil

Instructions

• Add oil to a big pot or dutch oven and place over medium high warmth. Once oil is sizzling, add in garlic and cook dinner for 30 seconds, then add within the floor turkey and onion and cook dinner till turkey is now not pink. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, water and pure maple syrup. Next add in recent herbs & spices: basil, italian seasoning, oregano, fennel, pink pepper flakes, nutmeg and salt and pepper, to style. Cover and simmer on low whilst you cook dinner the lasagna noodles.

• Bring a big pot of water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles for 6-8 minutes or till al dente, then drain and rinse with chilly water. Another choice is to soak the lasagna noodles in very heat (sizzling) water for 20-Half-hour if you do not need to boil them. (You also can use no cook dinner lasagna noodles, however they are not my favourite!)

• While the lasagna noodles are boiling, make the ricotta combination: In a medium bowl, combine collectively the ricotta, egg, basil and salt and pepper.

• Preheat oven to 400 levels F. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

• To assemble the lasagna, unfold 1 1/2 cups of the turkey meat sauce over the underside of the baking dish. Place 5 of the cooked lasagna noodles on prime, 4 vertical and 1 horizontal. Spread with half of the ricotta cheese combination, 2 tablespoons diced basil, then prime with 1/3 of the mozzarella slices. Next, add 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce on prime of the mozzarella and sprinkle with 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Repeat layers as soon as extra: remaining noodles, ricotta, basil, 1/3 of the mozzarella slices, any remaining meat sauce and 1/4 cup parmesan. Top with remaining mozzarella.

• Cover with foil and bake lined for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake one other 20 minutes. If you want bubbly, golden brown cheese, broil the highest for two minutes or till mozzarella is golden brown. Garnish with 1/4 cup parmesan and further basil. Cool for 15-20 minutes earlier than serving. Serves 12.

Recipe Notes

Make it forward of time: assemble the lasagna fully as directed, cowl and place it within the fridge sooner or later earlier than serving. When you’re able to serve, bake it up as directed and luxuriate in!
See the complete publish for two methods to freeze this lasagna.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 368calCarbohydrates: 31.4gProtein: 28.8gFat: 16.4gSaturated Fat: 6.8gFiber: 4.9gSugar: 6.9g

This publish was initially printed on September third, 2018, republished with new images on December twentieth, 2021, and republished on March sixteenth, 2024.