The Best Vegan Lasagna

 This classic tasting vegan lasagna is the best veggie lasagna that you’ll ever eat! Packed with healthy veggies, meaty vegan sausage, creamy vegan ricotta, and topped with melty vegan mozzarella cheese, this lasagna can’t be beaten!

If you want a thick, layered lasagna packed with all of your favorite fillings, you have to give this recipe a try!  Lasagna can be a bit time consuming to assemble, but I promise it’s well worth the effort!

You’ll love this vegetarian lasagna because it’s…

• delicious and tastes like an authentic 12 layer lasagna you would get at a restaurant.
• layered with lots of vegetables like zucchini, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes.
• meaty tasting with protein-packed vegan sausage!
• seasoned and cooked to perfection!

What you’ll need to make a vegan lasagna:

• Lasagna Noodles – I like the type that you boil ahead of time, but you can also use the no-boil type.
• Tomato Sauce – Any jarred spaghetti sauce will work or you can make your own oven-roasted tomato sauce.
• Vegan Ricotta Cheese – I make my own vegan ricotta from tofu, but you can also use cashew ricotta or store-bought vegan ricotta.  (I also like to add a bag of frozen spinach that has been thawed to the ricotta).
• Vegan Mozzarella Cheese –  for sprinkling between layers and topping the lasagna.  You can use any store-bought brand that you like or make your own with my homemade vegan mozzarella cheese recipe.  YOu can also swap out the cheese for vegan Bechamel sauce if you like.
• Tomatoes – any medium tomatoes like Roma work well.  The fresher and more in season, the better they will taste.
• Mushrooms – any type of mushroom will work.  I prefer to slice the mushrooms and lightly saute them before adding them to the lasagna.
• Zucchini or any Summer Squash – cut into thin slices and lightly sauteed in some olive oil.
• Olive Oil – for sauteing the vegetables before adding them to the lasagna.
• Spinach – either fresh or frozen will work.  I prefer to use frozen spinach that has been thawed in my ricotta and fresh spinach between the layers of noodles.
• Vegan Sausage – (optional)  I like to use my homemade Italian flavored vegan sausage crumbles, but you can use any vegan sausage chopped up into small pieces.

Note: you can also replace the ricotta or the mozzarella with bechamel sauce if you prefer.

Tools:

• Large Lasagna Dish – I use a 9″ x 13” deep dish lasagna pan.
• Food Processor – To make the homemade Tofu Ricotta.

How do I make vegan Lasagna:

Prepare all of the lasagna fillings:

1. Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions, drain, and rinse.  Put back into the pot with enough ice-cold water to cover the noodles. (This will stop the cooking process and keep them from sticking together.)
2. Wash and slice the veggies.  Saute the mushrooms and zucchini in a little bit of olive oil in a frying pan for about 2 minutes on each side to lightly cook them and set aside.
3. Make some vegan sausage crumbles or chop up some store-bought vegan Italian sausages into bite-sized pieces. (optional)

Make your tofu ricotta: (or use store-bought vegan ricotta if desired)

1. Drain and press a container of extra firm tofu getting out as much liquid as possible.
2. Crumble the tofu into a large food processor.
3. Add, salt, garlic, nutritional yeast, olive oil, and basil.
4. Blend well for 2 minutes in a food processor.  Add a splash of soy milk if needed to thin out the ricotta to a smooth spreadable texture.
5. Thaw a 16 oz bag of frozen spinach, put it in a colander, press out the water, then add it to the ricotta. (optional)
6. Pulse the food processor a few times to mix in the spinach.

Assemble the Lasagna:

1. Cover the bottom of your lasagna dish with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce.
2. Then lay down the cooked lasagna noodles so that they overlap each other a little.
3. Pour another layer of sauce and assemble a layer of sauteed zucchini
4. Sprinkle with a layer of vegan sausage.
5. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly.
6. Spread on a layer of ricotta cheese.
7. Add a layer of cooked mushrooms and add another layer of sauce.
8. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly.
9. Arrange fresh sliced tomatoes, basil, and some shredded vegan mozzarella.
10. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly and press down on them firmly to flatten out the lasagna and get out any pockets of air.
11. Drizzle spaghetti sauce over the top of the final layer of noodles and top with more vegan mozzarella cheese.
12. Cover with foil and bake at 375° F for 50 minutes.  Then take off the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes until bubbly.
13. Let it sit for about 15 minutes after you take it out of the oven before slicing to allow it to firm up.

Notes:

• You do not have to add the same exact things to your lasagna or assemble the layers in the same order that I did.  Just as long as you get in some sauce, veggies, ricotta, and cheese, it will taste good.
• You can easily replace the layers of ricotta or cheese with vegan bechamel sauce or just add it in addition to the ricotta and cheese. (Hey, I know some people are very serious about their need for bechamel sauce in lasagna.)
• Make sure to cover your lasagna during the first part of baking!  This allows it to cook evenly, keeps it from drying out, and helps the vegan cheese melt.  Give it a little time to bake without the foil at the end to crisp up a little on the edges and brown a little.
• This makes a very large lasagna, you can cut the recipe in half and bake in a smaller dish.  If you do this you will only need to bake it for about 40 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

Can I make the lasagna ahead of time?

Yes, if you want to get the work of making the lasagna out of the way, you can make it a day or two ahead of time.  Follow all of the directions the same, except only bake it for 30 minutes the first day.  Allow it to cool and keep it covered in the fridge until about an hour before you want to serve it.  Then bake it again at 375 for 30 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

How long does vegan lasagna keep?

The lasagna will stay good for up to 5 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.  Just be sure to cover it well and keep it in an airtight container.

How can I make this gluten-free?

All of the ingredients in this lasagna are gluten-free except for the noodles, so all you need to do is replace regular noodles with gluten-free ones. You can also use long thin slices of zucchini instead of noodles if you wish.

How to make zucchini noodles:

• Cut the zucchini with a mandolin lengthwise and lay on a paper towel.
• Sprinkle with salt and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
• Wipe off excess salt and water and use it as you would cooked noodles.

Serve this with some beautiful focaccia bread, minestrone soup, and/or a vegan Ceasar salad for a complete meal.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram or Pinterest for daily vegan inspiration and recipe ideas!  Tag me at #thehiddenveggies!  I love to see what you made too!

5 from 1 vote

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Vegan Lasagna

Prep Time

1 hr

Cook Time

1 hr 10 mins

Total Time

2 hrs 10 mins

 

A classic tasting 12 layer lasagna packed with veggies, vegan cheese, and vegan sausage for a hearty meal.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian, vegan

Keyword: vegan lasagna, vegetarian lasagna

Servings: 10

Calories: 334 kcal

Author: Monica Davis | The Hidden Veggies

Ingredients

• 1 16 oz package lasagna noodles
• 38 oz tomato sauce (about a jar and a half)
• 2 cups vegan mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup tomatoes about 3 medium
• 1 cup mushrooms
• 1 cup zucchini and/or summer squash
• 1 tbsp olive oil for sauteing veggies (optional)
• 3 cups spinach
• 1 cup vegan sausage crumbles or diced small (you can also use beefless crumbles)

Vegan Tofu Ricotta with Spinach

• 1 14 oz package  extra-firm tofu  drained and pressed
• 1 1/2 tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tbsp  light olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 clove garlic  or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1 handful basil  or 1 tbsp pesto or dried herbs
• 1 splash water to thin it out if necessary.
• 1 16 oz bag frozen spinach thawed with excess liquid pressed out of it.

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Prepare all of the lasagna fillings:

1. Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions, drain, and rinse.  Put back into the pot with enough ice-cold water to cover the noodles. (This will stop the cooking process and keep them from sticking together.)
2. Wash and slice the veggies.  Saute the mushrooms and zucchini in a little bit of olive oil in a frying pan for about 2 minutes on each side to lightly cook them and set aside.
3. Make some vegan sausage crumbles or chop up some store-bought vegan Italian sausages into bite-sized pieces. (optional)

Make your tofu ricotta: (or use store-bought vegan ricotta if desired)

1. Drain and press a container of extra firm tofu getting out as much liquid as possible.
2. Crumble the tofu into a large food processor.
3. Add, salt, garlic, nutritional yeast, olive oil, and basil.

4. Blend well for 2 minutes in a food processor.  Add a splash of water or soy milk if needed to thin out the ricotta to a smooth spreadable texture.

5. Thaw a 16 oz bag of frozen spinach, put it in a colander, press out the water, then add it to the ricotta. (optional)
6. Pulse the food processor a few times to mix in the spinach.

Assemble the Lasagna:

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F while you assemble the lasagna.

2. Cover the bottom of your lasagna dish with a thin layer of spaghetti sauce.
3. Then lay down the cooked lasagna noodles so that they overlap each other a little.

4. Pour another layer of sauce and assemble a layer of sauteed zucchini.

5. Sprinkle with a layer of vegan sausage.
6. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly.
7. Spread on a layer of ricotta cheese.

8. Add a layer of cooked mushrooms and another layer of sauce.

9. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly.
10. Arrange fresh sliced tomatoes, basil, and some shredded vegan mozzarella.
11. Add another layer of noodles overlapping them slightly and press down on them firmly to flatten out the lasagna and get out any pockets of air.
12. Drizzle spaghetti sauce over the top of the final layer of noodles and top with more vegan mozzarella cheese.

Bake the Lasagna

1. Cover with foil and bake at 375° F for 50 minutes.  Then take off the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes until bubbly.

2. Let it sit for about 15 minutes after you take it out of the oven before slicing to allow it to firm up.

Recipe Notes

• You do not have to add the same exact things to your lasagna or assemble the layers in the same order that I did.  Just as long as you get in some sauce, veggies, ricotta, and cheese, it will taste good.
• You can easily replace the layers of ricotta or cheese with vegan bechamel sauce or just add it in addition to the ricotta and cheese. (Hey, I know some people are very serious about their need for bechamel sauce in lasagna.)
• Make sure to cover your lasagna during the first part of baking!  This allows it to cook evenly, keeps it from drying out, and helps the vegan cheese melt.  Give it a little time to bake without the foil at the end to crisp up a little on the edges and brown a little.
• This makes a very large lasagna, you can cut the recipe in half and bake in a smaller dish.  If you do this you will only need to bake it for about 40 minutes covered and 15 minutes uncovered.

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Lasagna

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 334 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Sodium 1288mg56%

Potassium 629mg18%

Carbohydrates 50g17%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 14g28%

Vitamin A 1482IU30%

Vitamin C 15mg18%

Calcium 52mg5%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.