Ingredients
Method
- For the Butternut Squash Filling
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (skip this step if you're using canned pureed butternut squash).
- Cut, peel, and chop your butternut squash into small, 1-inch cubes. Transfer to your prepared baking sheet and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Roast in the oven for approximately 25-35 minutes, or until fork-tender. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
- Place the cooked (or canned) butternut squash, ricotta cheese, garlic, milk, salt + pepper, and nutmeg in the bowl of a large food processor. Puree until completely smooth. Add more milk if needed- you want the butternut squash filling to be thick and creamy, but too liquidy or runny. Season with salt, pepper, and additional nutmeg, to taste.
- For the Spinach Ricotta Mix
- Remove excess water from the thawed spinach; you can do this using a mesh wire strainer, cheesecloth, or tea cloth. Transfer the spinach to a medium bowl with the ricotta cheese, mozzarella, fresh chopped basil, salt and pepper. Mix until fully combined.
- Build your Lasagna
- Prepare your baking dish (I usually use a large, deep casserole dish, 12.38"L x 9.25"W x 2"H, but the one shown in the images is slightly larger). Spray dish with non-stick cooking spray of choice.
- First layer - Spread 1/3 of the butternut squash puree on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle with a thin layer of mozzarella cheese and cover with a single, non-overlapping layer of no-boil lasagna noodles (approximately 5 lasagna sheets). Gently spread half the spinach ricotta mixture over the noodles and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Top with a layer of sliced zucchini (see notes).
- Repeat layering (second layer) - Spread 1/3 of the butternut squash mixture over the sliced zucchini layer. Sprinkle with a light layer of mozzarella cheese and top with a single, non-overlapping layer of no-boil lasagna noodles (approximately 5 lasagna sheets). Spread the second half of the spinach ricotta mixture on top of the lasagna noodles. Top with mozzarella cheese and top with a layer of sliced zucchini.
- Final layer - Spread the remaining 1/3 of the butternut squash filling over the zucchini and sprinkle with grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle fresh basil leaves on top of the cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with a large foil "tent" and bake for approximately 20-30 minutes. Remove foil and continue to cook for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Top with additional fresh basil or sage leaves, if desired.
Notes
- If you prefer not to roast your butternut squash in the oven, you may also cook it using your Instant Pot or purchase it pre-cooked, pureed, and canned from the market. You will need three cans (15-ounces each) of pureed butternut squash per large lasagna.
- If butternut squash isn't available, pumpkin or pumpkin puree (unsweetened) will work just as well.
- If your zucchini noodles are super thin, you can make a layer 2-3 noodles thick.
- Feel free to substitute the lasagna noodles for more zucchini noodles and vice versa.
- I used whole milk ricotta, but fat-free ricotta or half fat-free and half whole milk ricotta will both work. Some readers have also mentioned substituting some or all of the ricotta for cottage cheese.
Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 578mg | Potassium: 818mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 16725IU | Vitamin C: 18.6mg | Calcium: 586mg | Iron: 3.7mg
