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    Home » Keto Dinner Ideas » Keto Zucchini Lasagna

    Published: Aug 14, 2021 by Carolyn

    Keto Zucchini Lasagna

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    11.4K shares
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    This zucchini lasagna is the ultimate keto comfort food recipe. Thinly sliced grilled zucchini layered with creamy ricotta and a hearty meat sauce, and the whole family loves it.

    Get my tricks for making zucchini lasagna that isn’t watery!

    Titled image of a piece of grilled zucchini lasagna on a white plate over a colorful striped napkin.

    Trust me when I say that you need to add this zucchini lasagna to your list of favorite keto dinner recipes as soon as humanly possible. It’s so delicious, so rich and hearty, you won’t miss the pasta at all.

    Dare I say it’s even better than the real thing? The proof is in the pudding (er, in the lasagna?), and my youngest and pickiest child has been hounding me almost daily to make it again. Everyone in my household loved it and didn’t care that it was made with zucchini.

    It’s just really really really good lasagna.

    Updated Recipe

    I originally created this recipe back in August 2014. We loved it back then and made it frequently, but it fell off my radar for a bit.

    But with the astonishing bounty of zucchini we’ve got this summer, I’ve had to get creative. I’ve made several batches of keto zucchini bread and cheesy zucchini casserole, and a lot of keto zucchini cookies.

    As I combed through my old zucchini recipes, I realized how much I wanted and needed to make keto zucchini lasagna again. It’s a great way to utilize summer squash and it’s essentially an all-in-one meal with protein and veggies.

    I also wanted to simplify the process a bit and make it even more keto friendly. And I am happy to say I succeeded!

    Top down image of zucchini lasagna in a white baking pan.

    Grilled Zucchini Noodles

    Many recipes that use zucchini to replace pasta suffer from the same problem: too much moisture. Zucchini has such a high moisture content, and if you don’t prepare it properly, you can end up with a soupy mess.

    To avoid watery zucchini lasagna, I recommend grilling the zucchini first. I have found that the dry heat of the grill reduces the moisture significantly.

    Don’t brush the zucchini slices with oil or sprinkle with salt before grilling, as it will make them mushy. Simply preheat the grill to medium and lay the slices directly on the grates. This dry grilling method makes perfect layers for keto lasagna.

    6 photos showing the steps to make keto zucchini lasagna.

    Tips for making keto zucchini lasagna

    As with any lasagna recipe, there is quite a bit of prep time. But the results are absolutely worth it! Here are my tips for making the best zucchini lasagna recipe:

    1. Slice the zucchini. You want slices no more than ¼ inch thick, so I recommend using a mandolin slicer. It helps slice the zucchini more evenly.
    2. Grill the zucchini. As I mention above, you want to dry grill the slices, with no oil or seasoning.
    3. Make the meat sauce. Sauté the beef until no longer pink, then add the seasonings and the pureed tomatoes.
    4. Make the ricotta filling. Use full fat ricotta, and season with basil and garlic. Add plenty of parmesan, too. And an egg in the filling helps hold the lasagna together better at the end.
    5. Layer the ingredients. Start with a layer of grilled zucchini, then ricotta filling, then meat sauce, and then sprinkle with one quarter of the shredded mozzarella. I like to save half of the mozzarella for the top of the lasagna, to make it extra appealing.
    6. Bake until bubbly. In the previous recipe, I had the casserole covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for 15. But this time around, I found that covering it was unnecessary and I just baked 30 minutes. Which means you can dig into your keto zucchini lasagna that much sooner!
    Close up shot of keto zucchini lasagna on a white plate with basil leaves on top.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    I don’t have a mandolin, how can I make this?

    You can use a sharp knife to cut the zucchini. I recommend cutting in half crosswise first so it’s easier to manage. Your slices won’t be perfectly even but it should still work nicely.

    I don’t have a grill, can I dry out the zucchini in the oven?

    Yes, I have provided oven instructions in the recipe. I recommend laying the slices on wire racks to allow the air to circulate on all sides, to remove excess moisture.

    Can I make this zucchini lasagna with a different protein?

    Absolutely! Any ground meat works well here so try ground turkey or Italian sausage.

    Can I make this vegetarian?

    You bet! I recommend some chopped mushrooms in the sauce for a delicious vegetarian lasagna.

    Is zucchini lasagna freezable?

    It absolutely is and I’ve done it many times. Bake it fully first, then freeze. To re-heat, allow it to come to room temperature before warming it in the oven.

    A slice of zucchini lasagna on a white plate in front of the pan, with some zucchini on a wooden cutting board.

    Seriously, my friends, this keto zucchini lasagna is a must make recipe. I truly think it’s as good as the real thing. Possibly even better because it doesn’t weigh you down with unnecessary carbs!

    More delicious keto casserole recipes

    • Ham and Cauliflower Casserole
    • Keto Shepherd’s Pie
    • Chicken Broccoli Casserole
    • Keto Green Bean Casserole
    • Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
    • Tamale Pie
    Top down image of zucchini lasagna in a white baking pan.

    Keto Zucchini Lasagna

    This zucchini lasagna is the ultimate keto comfort food recipe. Thinly sliced grilled zucchini layered with creamy ricotta and a hearty meat sauce, and the whole family loves it. Get my tricks for making zucchini lasagna that isn't watery!
    4.84 from 12 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Keyword: keto zucchini lasagna, zucchini lasagna
    Prep Time: 35 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 392kcal

    Ingredients

    • 2 lb zucchini (2 to 3 large)
    • 1 ½ lb ground beef
    • 1 teaspoon salt divided
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 15 ounces full-fat ricotta
    • ½ cup grated parmesan
    • ½ cup chopped fresh basil
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 ½ cups crushed or pureed tomatoes
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 12 ounces shredded mozzarella
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat the grill to medium. Cut the zucchini in half crosswise and then use a mandolin slicer to slice no more than ¼ inch thick.
    • Grill the zucchini slices until they are tender and much of the moisture has been removed, about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from grill and set aside. (Alternatively, roast zucchini at 350F in the oven on wire baking racks for about 20 minutes).
    • Heat a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook through, breaking up any clumps with the back of a wooden spoon, about 7 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon of the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the tomatoes.
    • In a large bowl, the ricotta, parmesan, basil, egg, garlic and the remaining salt. Stir to combine well.
    • Preheat the oven to 350F and brush a 9×13 inch glass or ceramic baking dish with the oil. Lay one third of the zucchini slices across the bottom in a single layer. Spread with one third of the ricotta mixture, then one third of the meat sauce and one quarter of the mozzarella. Repeat these layers 2 more times, finishing with half of the mozzarella.
    • Bake 30 minutes, until bubbling and hot. Remove from the oven and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
    Nutrition Facts
    Keto Zucchini Lasagna
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = 1/10th of recipe)
    Calories 392 Calories from Fat 221
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 24.5g38%
    Carbohydrates 8.2g3%
    Fiber 1.7g7%
    Protein 28.5g57%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    11.4K shares

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    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jacquelyn Kunstmann says

      October 02, 2022 at 5:32 pm

      5 stars
      Made this recipe tonight. My entire family loved it!

      Reply
    2. Carol Marino says

      August 31, 2022 at 9:54 am

      Carolyn…when you say you grill the zucchini, do you mean on a tabletop electric grill? Can you share the brand/model # with us please?

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        August 31, 2022 at 12:54 pm

        I am referring to an outdoor grill. Not sure an indoor electric grill would dry the zucchini out properly.

        Reply
    3. Karen Robertson says

      July 26, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      5 stars
      The best keto lasagne ever! Thank you Carolyn.

      Reply
    4. Sue says

      July 16, 2022 at 2:28 pm

      I didn’t have ricotta cheese but I had sour cream and that’s what I used and it was the best I’ve ever made.

      Reply
    5. Victoria Walker says

      June 20, 2022 at 9:14 am

      Cabbage leafs age the new favorite to use instead of zucchini, I boil cabbage leafs for 20 minutes until soft, lay it out on paper towels to dry, then layer exactly like lasagna noodles! thats what I now use for my lasagna. It takes on the exact taste of a noodle! And its not soggy at all like zucchini can get.

      Reply
    6. Cecily says

      June 14, 2022 at 3:09 pm

      I made a zucchini lasagna a few years ago. It was yummy, but a bit watery, so the other day I was thinking about dehydrating the zucchini before I used it! Perhaps also some sliced tomato, which I would use sparingly but both would absorb liquid. You’ve inspired me to try it!
      You are my go to keto recipe Queen! Thank you! Cecily

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 14, 2022 at 5:50 pm

        Yes, dehydrating it would help too. Don’t dehydrate completely, you don’t want them to be like leather…

        Reply
      • Victoria Walker says

        June 20, 2022 at 9:16 am

        5 stars
        I use cabbage leaf’s instead of zucchini! boil them and dry them, use them like a noodle!

        Reply
    7. TJ Funke says

      June 13, 2022 at 8:45 am

      4 stars
      This was great but I used Italian sausage for more flavor.

      Reply
    8. Sierra says

      April 28, 2022 at 9:49 pm

      4 stars
      We had company coming over tonight so I wanted a hearty meal that was tasty and filing, but stillI keto. So I made this tonight using the instructions as written, only omitting the crushed red peppers. It was delicious. Even or guest, who doesn’t follow keto but has no problem trying new things, loved it and asked for seconds. Next time I may make a little more sauce, as I tend to like my lasagna more saucy. Yes I know that will adjust the macros. But it’s still a low carb dish compared to regular lasagna. Bonus, no post-dinner misery from pasta bloat. Definitely a recipe to keep.

      We still had left overs, so I froze individualportions for easy meals when an easy/fend for yourself night is required.

      Reply
    9. Diana Hansberry says

      November 09, 2021 at 5:52 pm

      looks amazing. I wonder if the fathead dough could be used to make lasagna noodles too…?

      Reply
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