Rediscovering Comfort: The Joy of Gluten Free Lasagna
For many embarking on a gluten free lifestyle, lasagna is one of those “heartbreak dishes”, a classic comfort food that feels like it might be lost forever. The fear of mushy noodles, gritty textures, or a dish that falls apart the moment it hits the plate is real. At Gluten Free Journey, we believe that living without gluten should never mean living without flavour.
This lasagna recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s a return to the dinner table traditions you love, reimagined for gluten free safety and satisfaction.
Gluten Free Lasagna Recipe with Pre-Made Lasagne Noodles
Ingredients
- 28 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup spinach frozen, defrosted and drained
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 jars marinara sauce
- 500 g extra lean ground beef
- 375 g lean ground pork
- ½ lb. uncooked gluten-free lasagna noodles
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the ricotta, spinach, egg, and mozzarella – set aside28 ounces ricotta cheese, 1 cup spinach, 1 large egg, ½ cup part-skim shredded mozzarella cheese
- In a frying pan cook ground beef and pork until thoroughly cooked.500 g extra lean ground beef, 375 g lean ground pork
- Drain and rinse cooked beef & pork in a strainer.
- In a medium bowl, stir 1/2 cup of marinara sauce into cooked meat – set aside.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Ladle a quarter of the marinara sauce along the bottom of a greased 6-quart slow cooker.2 jars marinara sauce
- The bottom should be thoroughly covered in sauce.
- Add a single layer of lasagna noodles on top of the sauce, breaking noodles if needed to fit in the sides.½ lb. uncooked gluten-free lasagna noodles
- Ladle an additional quarter of sauce over the noodles, covering all of the noodles.
- Top with half of the cheese mixture, pressing firmly with the back of a spoon to smooth.
- Add a single layer of cooked ground beef & pork mixture.
- Add a single layer of lasagna noodles on top of the cheese, breaking noodles if needed to fit in the sides.
- Ladle another quarter of the sauce on top of the noodles, and top with the remaining cheese.
- Press another layer of noodles onto the cheese and top with the remaining sauce.
- Take care that the noodles are entirely covered in sauce.
- Cover and cook at 350 degrees until cooked through.
Nutrition Details
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Tried this gluten free recipe?
Let us know how it was!The Secret to Perfect Gluten Free Noodles
The most common hurdle in gluten free Italian cooking is the pasta. Because gluten provides the “elasticity” in traditional wheat noodles, gluten free versions can sometimes be fragile. However, the modern market has changed the game. Brands like Catelli Gluten Free and Barilla Oven-Ready have mastered the art of the no-boil sheet.
Using no-boil noodles is a life-saver for busy weeknights, but it requires a specific technique. These noodles act like sponges; they need moisture to transform from dry sheets into tender, al dente layers. In this recipe, we skip the pre-cooking entirely, allowing the noodles to absorb the savory juices from the marinara and the creamy richness of the ricotta mixture as they bake.
The Science of the Sauce
To ensure your lasagna is never dry or “crunchy” at the edges, moisture management is key. We recommend using two full jars of your favourite gluten free marinara. Why so much? As the oven-ready noodles bake, they pull liquid from the sauce. If your sauce is too thick or sparse, the noodles will remain tough. By layering generously, you create a steam-pocket environment inside the baking dish that cooks the pasta to perfection. For an extra boost of flavour and nutrition, our recipe incorporates a pound of spinach, which releases just enough moisture during the baking process to keep everything succulent.
Master the Layering Process
Building a lasagna is an art form. To prevent sticking, always start with a thin layer of sauce on the very bottom of your dish. This creates a non-stick barrier for your first layer of noodles. When placing your sheets, don’t be afraid to break them to fit the corners of your pan, lasagna is meant to be rustic!
As you build your meat and cheese layers, remember to press down firmly with the back of a spoon. This removes air pockets and ensures that when you finally slice into the dish, you get those beautiful, distinct layers that define a great lasagna.
Make-Ahead and Freezing Tips
One of the best things about this recipe is its versatility. You can assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. This actually allows the flavours to meld and the noodles to begin softening even before they hit the heat.
If you’re a fan of meal prepping, this lasagna freezes beautifully. You can freeze it unbaked for up to three months. Just remember to thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking, or add an extra 20–30 minutes to your cook time if baking from frozen (keeping it tightly covered with foil to prevent the top from burning).
Serving and Resting
The hardest part of this gluten free dinner recipe is the wait. Once the lasagna comes out of the oven, bubbling and golden, it must rest for at least 15 minutes. This resting period allows the cheese to set and the layers to bond. If you cut it too soon, the sauce will run, and the layers will slide. Patience pays off with a perfectly structured, sky-high slice of gluten free lasagna heaven.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lasagna
Yes, this specific recipe is balanced for “oven-ready” or no-boil gluten-free noodles. If you choose to use traditional gluten-free noodles that require boiling, you should reduce the amount of marinara sauce slightly, as the noodles won’t need to absorb as much liquid during the baking process.
You can easily adapt this recipe by using a cashew-based ricotta or a tofu ricotta alternative. Replace the mozzarella with your favorite gluten-free vegan shreds. Many of our community members have had great success with brands like Violife or Daiya for that classic melt.
Mushiness usually happens if the noodles are overcooked or if the sauce is too watery. When using gluten-free pasta, it is better to aim for a slightly “al dente” feel. Ensure you are using a thick, high-quality marinara and that your spinach is thoroughly drained and squeezed dry before adding it to the cheese mixture.
Absolutely! Zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers make excellent additions. Just be sure to sauté watery vegetables (like zucchini) beforehand to cook off excess moisture, so they don’t make the lasagna soggy.
We recommend Catelli Gluten Free or Barilla Oven-Ready Lasagna. For those who prefer a brown rice option, Jovial is a fantastic choice that holds its shape remarkably well.
For the best texture, we recommend freezing the lasagna before baking. This prevents the noodles from becoming twice-cooked and mushy. However, leftovers can be frozen after baking and reheated in the microwave or oven for a quick lunch.
Don’t normally comment but this was a great recipe. Love how simple it was to customize. Not a major spinach fan, but with all the meat & cheese. A win. Used Catelli gluten free lasagna noodles – worked great.
It is meaty. It is cheesey. It hides vegetables that the littles make a fuss about. Sadly, the lasagna noodles we tried were terrible the first time. Second time using Catelli brand though, perfect.
Thank you for this delicious lasagna recipe. I made it over the weekend and my whole family loved it. It came out perfect! God Bless You!
Your lasagna looks and tastes amazing! Great flavors in this classic dish. I think homemade gluten free lasagna beats store bought every time. So good!
Made this and it turned out delicious! Used gluten free jarred marinara bc I was short on time. Used double the parm and mozzarella cheese and it was perfect! Also added fresh herbs from the garden to the skim ricotta and egg mixture.
A great gluten free lasagna! Simple too. Lasagna always intimated me, but not now. Thanks Gluten Free Journey! 5 stars!
Never thought I’d have lasagna again but this recipe gave me the chance. A yummy gluten free lasagna!
Delicious lasagna recipe!
Glad I tried this!
It was an easy recipe to follow and the results where delicious. Proud of my cooking skills today , thank you
It was so good.
Followed recipe with no changes. Everyone loves this recipe at our parties.
My family loves this recipe! One of the few things I make my youngest could eat every day. We use ground turkey instead of ground beef. And it tastes amazing!
I make something very close to this and yup it’s delicious 😋
Love this gluten free dish. Tried it today. Only difference I did was I used 2lb of ground beef. We like alot of meat in ours. Same results. Absolutely will cook this again.
Easy to follow recipe with delicious results!!! Made a small tweak by adding one medium carrot to help cut some of the acidity. Not a necessary step, just a personal preference 🙂
I made this gluten free lasagna for my family for dinner and it came out amazing , it was delicious and so easy. I’m going to have this on rotation in my home. Thank you for the delicious recipes, please keep them coming❤️
Amazing recipe. I added my favorite, mushrooms and it was great. Came out perfect!!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! Used Catelli Lasagna noodles. Delicious. Cooked well.
Easy and delicious lasagna!
You can’t tell this is gluten free and it’s an awesome dinner recipe! Hits the mark every time and I’m thankful I came across your recipe.
Always a great lasagna