Name: The Best Turkey Lasagna
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: italian
Ingredients: 12 lasagna noodles; 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 1/2 pounds ground turkey; 1 large carrot, peeled and diced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 sweet onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 2 – 25oz jars marinara sauce; 1 parmesan rind; 1 dried bay leaf; salt and pepper, to taste; 1 cup roughly chopped spinach; 15 oz whole-milk ricotta; 1 egg; juice of half lemon; 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper; 1 cup grated parmesan; 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped; 1/4 cup basil, chopped

This easy homemade lasagna is pure comfort food and absolutely delicious! The perfect recipe that works well for both a holiday gathering or a cozy weeknight dinner.

The Best Homemade Turkey Lasagna

A hearty, cheesy lasagna is the perfect cozy comfort food and this homemade turkey lasagna always hits the spot!

It’s filled with plenty of fresh herbs, spices, fresh garlic, and instead of traditional ground beef or Italian sausage we’re using ground turkey! The ground turkey lightens things up a bit but still leaves you with a delicious lasagna that is absolutely perfect.

This recipe may take a little extra time but it’s still easy to put together, the leftovers are divine, and it freezes well!

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Turkey Lasagna Ingredients

Lasagna Noodles: we’re using 12 lasagna noodles for this turkey lasagna recipe.

Ground Turkey: usually lasagna is made with ground beef and/or ground Italian sausage but we’re making a lighter version of the classic and using ground turkey. You can use regular dark meat ground turkey if you like or use ground turkey breast.

Green Bell Pepper: I love the extra bit of flavor fresh bell pepper adds to the meat sauce.

Diced Carrot: this adds a little sweetness to the sauce plus you get extra veggies!

Marinara Sauce: to keep this recipe as simple as possible, use your favorite jarred marinara sauce.

Cheese: we’re using a combination of classic ricotta cheese, parmesan, and of course mozzarella in this lasagna.

Egg: this helps the ricotta cheese mixture to “set up” so you get some good layers in your lasagna.

Lemon Juice: this brightens up the cheesy ricotta mixture and adds extra flavor.

Herbs and Seasonings: fresh herbs, Italian seasoning, and loads of fresh garlic all help to give this lasagna some serious flavor.

Ingredients Swaps and Frequently Asked Questions

Noodles – feel free to use whole wheat or gluten free noodles in this lasagna if you prefer.
Protein – swap the ground turkey for ground chicken or ground beef if you like! If you’re looking for a more veggie-forward recipe then check out this Roasted Vegetable Lasagna!
Cheese – if you have a favorite vegan cheese alternative and want to keep this recipe dairy free, then feel free to use it in this recipe!

How to Make This Ground Turkey Lasagna Recipe

Step One: Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground turkey. Brown the meat, breaking it up as it cooks. Once the meat is mostly brown, add the diced carrot, diced bell pepper, and onion. Cook for 4-5 more minutes until the onion starts to become translucent. Next, add in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Sauté for 1-2 more minutes or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the marinara sauce, parmesan rind, dried bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined, lower burner to low heat, and simmer the sauce, covered, for 15-20 minutes. After the sauce has simmered, discard the bay leaf and stir in the chopped spinach until wilted. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Step Two: Add the ricotta, egg, lemon juice, black pepper, parmesan, parsley, and chopped basil to the mixing bowl. Stir until well combined.

Step Three: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles to the boiling hot water and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking. Remove the noodles from the water and drain.

Step Four: Pour roughly 1 cup of sauce into the casserole dish and spread it out to coat the bottom of the dish. Add 4 lasagna noodles, lengthwise, to the casserole dish (it’s ok if the edges overlap a little bit), then spread a heaping 1/2 cup of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, next sprinkle over 1 1/4 cups of mozzarella cheese, and then pour around 2 cups of marinara sauce. Repeat for the second layer. For the third and final layer, you will skip the mozzarella cheese. Instead add a layer of noodles, the ricotta mixture, and then pour over any remaining marinara sauce.

Step Five: Bake the lasagna uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Step Six: Remove the lasagna from the oven and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and bake for another 15-20 minutes or the edges of the lasagna are bubbly and the cheese is fully melted and starts to become golden brown.

Step Seven: Let the lasagna sit for 15-20 minutes and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil before serving.

Can You Freeze Lasagna?

Yes! Freezing lasagna is one of my favorite life hacks and makes getting dinner on the table super easy on those busy days.

To freeze lasagna: Make sure the lasagna has completely cooled to room temperature. Then slice it into large portions and transfer to a freezer safe storage container and transfer to the freezer.

Best Way to Reheat

To reheat the frozen lasagna, remove it from the freezer and place in the fridge to thaw completely. Once the lasagna has thawed, you can reheat it in the microwave or in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil, at 350 degrees until bubbly and heated through.

What to Serve with Lasagna

I always love to serve lasagna with a big fresh salad and here are a few of my favorite options:

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Get all of our reader favorite ground turkey recipes!

I hope you give this Turkey Lasagna a try! It’s the perfect hearty comfort food.

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