This Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe is the perfect go-to solution for a hearty fall meatless meal. Keep all your guests happy with this vegetarian butternut squash lasagna.
This fall casserole dish a perfect choice for Thanksgiving. Many families in my area make both turkey and lasagna on the holiday anyway.
I have been up to my eyeballs in renovations around here the past couple weeks, so there is some appeal to making a light meatless recipe with many servings like this Butternut Squash Lasagna. I still have a few days of painting left in my kitchen and pantry, so being able to zap a healthy homemade meal will come in very handy. The recipe is an older (2003) one from Cooking Light, which seems appropriate since they are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the magazine . Here is a link to the original recipe. I made a few adjustments to the recipe, such as sauteing in olive oil, swapping chives for parsley , baking in one large pan, and a few other minor changes, but the recipe is still quite similar to the original.
Butternut Squash Lasagna: Recipe Tricks
I used jarred sauce, and added a teaspoon of smoked olive oil rather than making the Smokey Marinara sauce for the recipe. I doubt many readers have smoked oil on hand, so I would suggest using the Smokey Marinara Sauce recipe that Cooking Light suggests. If you are really in an all fire hurry, add some leftover roasted butternut squash as a layer in my easy Ravioli Lasagna recipe.
This Butternut Squash Lasagna was rather tasty. I will make it again.
If you are looking to create a hearty vegetarian holiday spread consider making this along with my Eggplant Casserole, Beet and Dandelion Salad, Puff Pastry Pizza with Vegetables and Potato Leek soup.
Ingredients
- ½ tbs olive oil
- 1 large sweet onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- leaves off 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt ¼ + ¼
- 8 oz. bag fresh baby spinach
- ¼ lb. sharp provolone cheese shredded, or chopped deli slices
- ¼ cup chopped chives
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 32-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese
- 3 cups diced peeled butternut squash
- 6 cups Smoky Marinara I used jar sauce and added smoked olive oil to it, but the sauce looks good & most people don't have smoked olive oil in their pantry
- 12 oven-ready lasagna noodles such as Barilla
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Place large deep pan such as a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Once hot, add onion, garlic, thyme & ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt. Sauté until tender (4-5 min).
- Add spinach, sauté until wilted. Remove from burner & set aside.
- Combine provolone, chives, ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, pepper, eggs, and ricotta in a large bowl and mix well.
- Place squash in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook on high 5-6 minutes or until tender.
- Coat the bottom and sides of a deep 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Spread Marinara in the bottom of dish.
- Arrange 3 noodles over sauce.
- Spread about ½ the cheese mixture over noodles.
- Spread the spinach-onion mix, over cheese evenly.
- Top with a couple scoops of sauce.
- Add a noodle layer.
- Spread remaining cheese on noodles. (Be mindful of height, and don't use it all if the room isn't there. You still have more to add)
- Arrange squash over cheese mixture and spread sauce over squash.
- Add final layer of noodles and top with sauce.
- Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover pan with foil.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.
Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
Yum! This looks like the perfect dish for fall. I'm going to make it sans noodles 😛
Robin says
Oh this is just awesome. I was looking yesterday for a recipe for Thanksgiving. I am hosting and not everyone coming to dinner likes turkey (imagine??), so I wanted to give them another option!
JulieD says
I love butternut squash!! This looks fantastic, Robin!!
Nichol says
That sounds great. I'm not a big squash fan, but can handle butternut squash!
Billie says
I just recently tried butternut squash ravioli and it was delicious. I bet this lasagna is as well.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
Looks absolutely fantastic, and I made butternut squash in combination with some pasta a few weeks ago and loved it, so I KNOW I'll love your recipe too.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
This would be really great as a vegetarian main dish for Thanksgiving too!
Jenn @therebelchick says
I bet my mom would LOVE this, she loves butternut squash!
Veggie Diva's Kitchen says
I bet you could just put a few drops of Liquid Smoke in there. I think that's what I'm going to do.
Robin Gagnon says
Makes sense to me. Let me know how it turns out.