⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 4 servings

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 75 minutes

🍽 Ingredients

• 2 medium Zucchini
• 1/2 Onion
• 1/2 lb Ground Beef (or substitute)
• 1 cup Marinara Sauce
• 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
• 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
• 1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
• 2 tbsp Olive Oil
• to taste Salt
• to taste Pepper
• 1 tsp Italian Seasoning

📖 Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan – trust me, this is super important to avoid sticking!
2. Finely grate the zucchini. I usually use a box grater, but hey, whatever works for you! Once it’s all grated, you want to salt it generously (about 1 teaspoon per cup of zucchini). Let it sit for at least 15 minutes. This crucial step helps draw out the excess moisture, which, in my opinion is key to a good, non-soggy lasagna.
3. While the zucchini is draining its tears—I mean, releasing moisture—you can get started with the sauce. In a large saucepan over medium heat, sauté 1 onion (chopped however you prefer; I'm a dice kind of girl) in olive oil. You want that to soften; maybe 5 minutes or so.
4. Add your ground beef/meat substitute (if using). I tend to use a lean ground beef, but feel free to experiment! Brown the meat, breaking it up with a spoon. Once it's cooked through, drain any excess grease.
5. Stir in your favorite marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it all simmer for about 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Taste it, adjust seasoning; make it your own!
6. After the zucchini has sweated out the extra moisture, use some paper towels to squeeze the excess liquid from it. It's ok to be thorough here, believe me!
7. Now, it's lasagna time! In the prepared baking pan, start with a layer of meat sauce. Now, layer the grated zucchini. Next, spread a thin layer of ricotta (or your chosen substitute), sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. Repeat these layers—sauce, zucchini, ricotta, Parmesan—until the pan is almost full. Try for at least 3 full layers; I prefer 4, but hey, I also prefer to have enough leftovers for lunch the next day.
8. For the top layer, use a generous layer of marinara sauce. Sprinkle some shredded mozzarella cheese. Now, it's all set!
9. Bake the lasagna for about 45-60 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. It's cooked through when a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil.
10. Let the lasagna rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows it to set up properly and makes it easier to cut neat slices. Enjoy! Seriously, pat yourself on the back. You deserve a slice (or two) of this deliciousness!

📝 Notes

• Don't oversalt the zucchini initially; you can always add more seasoning later.
• Feel free to add your favorite herbs and spices to the meat sauce.
• If you like a spicier lasagna, add some red pepper flakes to the meat sauce!