The Greatest Wholesome Turkey Lasagna You will Ever Eat


HI. It’s me. Your neighborhood wholesome consolation makeover girl bringing again one in every of my most well-known recipes for you that’s excellent for impressing your loved ones, making your love swoon, comforting a good friend, or simply making ’trigger you freaking love Italian meals.

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 truthfully say I like lasagna greater than every other Italian meals. Again throughout my faculty years, I had requested my mother to make me a spinach and butternut squash lasagna for my birthday meal; it’s nonetheless one in every of my favourite meals of all time. I can bear in mind the nice and cozy butternut squash sauce between noodles and tons of mozzarella. (In the event you haven’t tried my roasted veggie butternut squash lasagna but, that is your signal!)

I liked the recipe SO a lot that as a substitute of sharing the leftovers with any of my roommates, I minimize 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 might get pleasure from it once more the next week.

CALL ME THE SELFISH LASAGNA GIRL.

Or wait, truly don’t.

In any case, should you haven’t made this AK traditional it’s about time you do it up. It’s one of the best vacation meal or consolation meals recipe that everybody loves!

healthy turkey lasagna in a pan

What makes this lasagna recipe more healthy?

Identical to conventional lasagna recipes, this one is full of taste and scrumptious, tacky layers. I’ve made this lasagna. bit more healthy through the use of lean floor turkey as a substitute of floor beef

Components on this wholesome turkey lasagna

I made a decision I needed 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 1,000,000 instances higher than I might have ever anticipated, so let’s focus on what’s all concerned:

  • Home made tomato sauce: I prefer to make this with a home made tomato basil infused sauce. I exploit 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). Lastly, I stir in contemporary basil to provide it a phenomenal, contemporary 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 like the dietary profile. I exploit the 94% lean floor turkey, however you might additionally use 99% lean — simply know that it received’t be as flavorful or moist. Take a look at different recipes you need to use with floor turkey right here.
  • Lasagna noodles: I like to make use of entire wheat lasagna noodles on this recipe for a pleasant increase of entire grains.
  • Contemporary basil: Between the layers of noodles isn’t simply cheese and sauce, but additionally contemporary basil leaves. It provides somewhat one thing particular to the lasagna and will increase the flavour profile.
  • CHEESE: Additionally between the layers of noodles is contemporary mozzarella cheese, parmesan and creamy ricotta. This additionally contributes to the lasagna taste, so don’t skip the cheese (a wonderful supply of protein!)

cooking tomato sauce in a pot for turkey lasagna

Straightforward methods to customise

This wholesome turkey lasagna is scrumptious as-is, however there are a couple of easy methods to customise should you’d like!

  • Add a lift of veggies. In the event you’re wanting so as to add some extra veggies to this wholesome turkey lasagna, be at liberty to combine some cooked spinach into the ricotta layer, and even add some mushrooms to that turkey meat sauce!
  • Select 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. Nonetheless, you need to 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 totally different. If these are the one noodles you could have, they’ll nonetheless work within the recipe.
  • Attempt 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.

mixing a ricotta mixture for the best turkey lasagna recipe

The way to make one of the best turkey lasagna

  1. Make the meat sauce. Begin by cooking your floor turkey with garlic and onion, then stir in the remainder of the substances for the tomato sauce. Cowl and let it simmer on low to thicken up.
  2. Cook dinner your noodles. Whereas the sauce is simmering you’ll be able to prepare dinner your lasagna noodles till simply al dente.
  3. Make the ricotta combination. Whereas 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! Unfold turkey meat sauce on the underside of a ready baking dish, place lasagna noodles on high, unfold with the ricotta combination, then high with basil and mozzarella slices. Add extra meat sauce and parmesan cheese, then repeat the layers as soon as extra.
  5. Bake & serve. Cowl the lasagna with foil and bake it for about 25 minutes, then take away the foil and bake it for 20 extra. Garnish with additional basil & parmesan, cool and serve it up!

layering healthy turkey lasagna in a pan

Suggestions for making excellent turkey lasagna

With these tremendous simple suggestions, you’ll have probably the most scrumptious turkey lasagna each time:

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

easy turkey lasagna in a pan

Make it forward of time

Sure, you’ll be able to simply make this wholesome turkey lasagna forward of time! Merely assemble the lasagna fully as directed, cowl and place it within the fridge at some point earlier than serving. It’s the proper strategy to save time throughout busy weeks. Whenever you’re able to serve, bake it up as directed and revel in!

pulling a slice of turkey lasagna out of a pan

The way to freeze lasagna: two alternative ways

One other 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 possibly 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, deliver to room temp, after which freeze your entire pan. Simply be sure you double wrap it so the lasagna doesn’t dry out. That is assuming you’re freezing your entire pan. As soon as able to reheat, thaw it out. Then bake, lined at 350 levels F for 30-45 minutes or till heated by way of.
  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. As soon as able to bake, thaw out then bake in keeping with directions.

Personally, I prefer to prepare 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.

piece of healthy turkey lasagna on a plate

Extra consolation meals to attempt

Get all of my scrumptious consolation meals recipes right here!

I hope you like this recipe as a lot as we do. It’s nice for events and soccer season too. In the event you make it, be sure you tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram and/or go away a remark and fee the recipe under!

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The Greatest Wholesome Turkey Lasagna You will Ever Eat

healthy turkey lasagna in a pan

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook dinner Time 1 hour

Whole Time 1 hour 30 minutes

Serves12 servings

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

Components

  • 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 contemporary 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 contemporary basil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly floor black pepper
  • For the layers:
  • ¼ cup packed contemporary basil, diced
  • 16 ounce contemporary entire milk mozzarella, shredded
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • To garnish:
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan
  • Contemporary basil

Directions

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

  • Deliver a big pot of water to a boil. Cook dinner the lasagna noodles for 6-8 minutes or till al dente, then drain and rinse with chilly water. An alternative 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 can too use no prepare dinner lasagna noodles, however they don’t seem to be my favourite!)

  • Whereas 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 high, 4 vertical and 1 horizontal. Unfold with half of the ricotta cheese combination, 2 tablespoons diced basil, then high with 1/3 of the mozzarella slices. Subsequent, add 1 1/2 cups of the meat sauce on high 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. High with remaining mozzarella.

  • Cowl with foil and bake lined for 25 minutes. Take away foil and bake one other 20 minutes. If you would like 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 at some point earlier than serving. Whenever you’re able to serve, bake it up as directed and revel in!
See the total submit for two methods to freeze this lasagna.

Vitamin

Serving: 1servingEnergy: 368calCarbohydrates: 31.4gProtein: 28.8gFats: 16.4gSaturated Fats: 6.8gFiber: 4.9gSugar: 6.9g

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images by: Eat Love Eats

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



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