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Cheesy baked lasagna in a cast iron dish.
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5 from 11 votes

Ground Turkey Lasagna Recipe

You’re going to love this ground turkey lasagna recipe! You get layers of fresh mozzarella, creamy ricotta, and a deeply savory meat sauce that rivals any beefy counterpart. This is the lasagna you make when you want something substantial, but not too heavy.
Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 9 oz box of oven-ready lasagna noodles or approx. 12 uncooked lasagna noodles, cooked as per the package directions.
  • 2 cups fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced very thin
  • 15 oz whole-milk ricotta cheese, strained *See notes.
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt

Ground Turkey Meat Sauce

  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 1 TBSP fresh chopped oregano
  • 48 oz tomato pasta sauce
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl, add the strained ricotta cheese (*see notes), egg, and sea salt. Whisk with a fork until well blended; set aside.
  • In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent (5-7 minutes). Stir in the garlic and simmer for another 30 seconds.
  • Add the ground turkey to the pot and, using a large spoon or spatula, break it into chunks as it cooks for 5-7 minutes. Season it with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  • Add the oregano, then stir in the pasta sauce and tomato paste.
  • Bring the sauce to a low boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 10 minutes, or until it has thickened slightly.

Layering the Lasagna

  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
  • Ladle 3/4 cup of the meat sauce into a 9 x 13" baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom to cover.
  • Place some noodles on the bottom of the baking dish, side by side, to cover the bottom. Spoon 2 cups of meat sauce over the noodles, then sprinkle ½ cup of grated cheese over the sauce.
  • Place another layer of noodles, now crosswise, over the cheese. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the noodles.
  • Lay another layer of noodles lengthwise over the ricotta. Place the sliced mozzarella over the noodles, then spread 1 cup of meat sauce over the mozzarella. Sprinkle 1 cup of grated cheese over the sauce, then cover the cheese with a layer of noodles, lengthwise.
  • Finally, spoon 2 cups of meat sauce over the noodles in an even layer, then sprinkle the sauce with the remaining cheese.
  • Loosely cover the lasagna with tin foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  • After 25 minutes, remove the foil and bake the lasagna, uncovered, for 5 minutes to get the cheese nice and golden.
  • Let the lasagna sit for 15 minutes before serving, then garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil.

Notes

To strain ricotta, line a colander with a few layers of cheesecloth (grade 50 or higher), spoon the ricotta into the center, and gather the corners into a bundle. Twist the top tight and press slowly—too much pressure too fast and the curds push through the cloth.
*Inspired by Lidia Bastianich, Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 408kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g
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