This Spinach Ricotta Lasagna is a family favorite, and everyone will be asking for seconds! Packed with three cheeses, it's a hearty and cheesy delight. Perfect for weeknight dinners or impress at your next gathering.
Once you make this spinach lasagna, it will soon be added to your dinner rotation!
It's a crowd pleaser that always has everyone asking for seconds! You only need 6 ingredients and it's actually quite easy to make!
It's layered with a creamy spinach and ricotta mixture that works perfectly with the rich tomato sauce. I like to use my homemade Italian sauce which is super simple to make, but you can of course use store bought marinara sauce too.
Traditional lasagna is made with a bolognese sauce with ground beef and Italian sausage. Whilst this spinach and ricotta lasagna is a vegetarian recipe, even meat lovers will love it! It's hearty and cozy and always hits the spot especially in the cooler seasons.
You can also make it in advance for busy occasions and gatherings such as birthdays, Christmas and Thanksgiving. Just assemble in the morning or even the day before, and pop in the oven to bake when it's time to eat! Trust me, this spinach and ricotta lasagne will be the star of the table!
Table of Contents
Why you'll love this recipe
- Family Favorite. This cozy dish is one for the whole family, whether it's a busy weeknight dinner or one to serve at a gathering or for the holidays
- Veggie-Packed. Spinach is of course a superfood packed with nutrients and vitamins making this spinach lasagna not only delicious but nutritious too. You can also add other vegetables such as zucchini and bell peppers
- Cheesy Delight. Dive into those cheesy layers with 3 different types of cheeses! The perfect blend of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan make it taste like heaven.
- Easy Peasy. This spinach and ricotta lasagne is actually quite easy to make and it's also great to make ahead for a busy occasion
Ingredients to make Spinach Lasagna
- Spinach is the star of this glorious lasagna! Being a superfood, it's packed with nutrients and goodies making this dish hearty and healthy too. I personally prefer to use frozen spinach which you can easily thaw or boil down. You can of course use fresh spinach, however you will need to boil or cook in a sauce pan
- Ricotta is the next key component to the cheesy layers. It's super creamy and works perfectly with the spinach flavor. You can use whole milk ricotta which is more rich and creamy but low fat can also be used. Cottage cheese can be substituted with ricotta in some recipes but I personally haven't tested it with this spinach lasagna recipe
- Marinara sauce is used as the base of each layer. The rich tomato flavors work perfectly with the creamy cheeses. I always make my own homemade sugo which is crazy easy to make. It's made with extra virgin olive oil, a couple cloves garlic, canned tomatoes and basil. That's it! Not to worry as you can of course use a good quality jarred sauce
- Lasagna sheets are the foundation of the lasagna of course. They're traditionally made from egg and flour. I like to use fresh lasagna sheets but dry boxed lasagna noodles work perfectly, just boil them as per the package instructions
- Parmesan cheese aka Parmigiano Reggiano is added to the spinach ricotta mixture and is also added on top. I always recommend buying a block of fresh parmesan cheese and freshly grating it yourself. It brings a nutty, umami depth and saltiness to the dish
- Mozzarella cheese is everyones favorite cheese with its gooey and stretchiness, giving that cheesy cheese pull! If you are using fresh mozzarella cheese like I have, ensure to cut and place over paper kitchen towels to release the excess liquid
How to make Spinach Lasagna
Make this family favorite Spinach Lasagna that will have everyone wanting seconds! Follow these simple steps below.
Prepare Ingredients
- Prepare marinara sauce (if making your own). Here is my easy recipe
- If using shredded mozzarella, skip this step. If using fresh mozzarella, slice it and place over paper towels so the excess water is released
- Thaw frozen spinach or you can also boil it for 2 minutes to thaw quickly. Drain and squeeze out all of the excess liquid
- In a bowl add spinach, ricotta and ¾ of the parmesan cheese. Season well and mix to combine
How to Layer Lasagna
- In a baking dish, first add ½ cup of marinara sauce, then place a layer of lasagna noodles on top
- Pour over ½ cup of the marinara sauce
- Gently spread ¼ of the spinach ricotta mixture then top with a sprinkle of mozzarella
- Add another layer of lasagna noodles, then follow steps 2 and 3. Repeat this step until you have 4 even layers
- Top with a final layer of lasagna noodles and marinara sauce. Sprinkle over the remaining mozzarella and parmesan. Bake in a preheated of 200°C/400°F for 25-30 minutes
- Allow to cool for 10 minutes and this spinach lasagna is ready to serve!
Tips and tricks for spinach lasagna recipe
- Never miss the step of squeezing the excess liquid from the spinach! Whether you are boiling fresh spinach or thawing frozen spinach, it's crucial to ensure your lasagna is not watery
- If using fresh mozzarella cheese like I have, ensure to cut and place over paper kitchen towels to release the excess liquid. Fresh mozzarella balls are always preserved in water so you want to remove as much of the water as you can
- Making an authentic Italian sugo will taste so much better! Trust me it's crazy easy to make with only a handful of ingredients
- Layer evenly when assembling. This will give you the perfect slice and bite each time but you don't have to stress too much about it
- Allow lasagna to rest for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven. This makes slicing and serving easier
Storage, Reheating and Freezing
- Store any spinach lasagna leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat in the oven covered with foil, or also in the air fryer or microwave for a few minutes until its heated through
- You can also freeze leftovers for 2 months! Just store in an airtight container or freezer bag, then thaw and reheat in the oven, airfryer or microwave
- You can prep this spinach lasagne recipe in advance! Once it has been assembled, cover and place the uncooked lasagna in the fridge the day before. Then leave it out of the fridge for about an hour, and bake in the oven when ready.
- Freeze uncooked spinach lasagna for up to 2 months. Once assembled, cover and place in the freezer, then thaw the frozen lasagna in the fridge overnight, and bake in the oven as per the recipe
FAQs
There is quite a lot of water in spinach, so its important not to miss the step of squeezing out all the excess liquid from the spinach once its been thawed or boiled
Yes, boil the spinach beforehand so you can then squeeze out the excess liquid. Once cooked, the spinach quantity also changes quite largely so its best to always cook it first or use frozen spinach
Yes certainly! Once it has been assembled, cover and place in the fridge the day before then bring it to room temperature and bake in the oven when ready.
You can also freeze the spinach lasagna for up to 2 months. Cover and place in the freezer, then thaw the frozen lasagna in the fridge overnight and bake in the oven as per the recipe
More Pasta Recipes
- Pastina
- Spaghetti alla Nerano
- Burrata Pasta
- Broccoli Pasta
- Pasta e Fagioli
- Lemon Garlic Pasta
- Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca
- Pasta alla Norma
More Italian Recipes
- No Knead Focaccia
- Tuscan White Bean Soup
- Italian Zucchini Fritters
- Mushroom and Pea Risotto
- Limoncello Recipe
- Italian Pizza
- Tiramisu Cups
- Saffron Risotto
- Italian Pastina Soup
I love seeing your creations and remakes, so be sure to rate the recipe, comment and share your Spinach Lasagna photo on Instagram so I can share the love!
Recipe
Ultimate Spinach Lasagna (3 Cheeses)
Ingredients
- 9oz / 250g lasagna sheets (I've used fresh lasagna sheets)
- 3 cups
marinara sauce - 17 ounces frozen spinach (approx 2 cups once thawed) If using fresh spinach, see notes *
- 24 ounces ricotta cheese
- 5 ounces freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 9 ounces mozzarella cheese (I’ve used fresh mozzarella but shredded mozzarella is great too)
Instructions
- Prepare your marinara sauce if you are making your own, here is my easy recipe
- If using shredded mozzarella, skip this step. If using fresh mozzarella, slice it and place over paper towels so the excess water is released.
- Thaw the frozen spinach or you can also boil it for a minute to thaw quickly. Drain in a colander and ensure to squeeze out all of the excess liquid.
- In a large bowl, add the spinach, ricotta, and ¾ of the freshly grated parmesan cheese. Season well with salt and black pepper and mix until well combined, ensure to give it a taste for seasoning
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F. If using dry lasagne sheets, boil noodles as per the package instructions
Layer Lasagna
- In a large baking dish, add ½ cup of the marinara sauce to the bottom then place a layer of lasagna noodles over the top
- Pour over another ½ cup of the marinara sauce then top with ¼ of the spinach ricotta mixture. Gently spread it out evenly, then sprinkle with a layer of the mozzarella cheese (approximately ⅕ of the total cheese)
- Add another layer of lasagna noodles, then repeat the previous step three more times so you have 4 even layers
- Top with the final layer of lasagna noodles and marinara sauce. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese and sprinkle over the remaining parmesan cheese
- Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is all melted and you have those crispy golden edgesAllow it to cool for 10 minutes, garnish with fresh basil leaves then slice and serve up your glorious Spinach Lasagna!
Notes
- * If you prefer to use fresh spinach, boil for a few minutes until wilted and cooked. You will need 2 cups of cooked spinach for the recipe
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