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Authentic Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna with Tomato Sauce is an Italian classic you don’t want to miss! Made with wholesome ingredients, this is a recipe the whole family will love.
If you prefer meat lasagna, try this recipe, Authentic Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel Sauce.
More ricotta recipes to try: Italian Frittata Recipe with Peas and Ricotta, Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta with Capers, and Baked Eggplant with Tomato Sauce and Ricotta.
If you love sweets with ricotta, try these- BEST Authentic Sicilian Cannoli Recipe and Sweet Ricotta Pie!
Other vegetable recipes you will love – Butternut Squash Casserole Recipe!
Simple Ingredients
Only wholesome and fresh ingredients will help to make this recipe for spinach lasagna the absolute BEST!
- Lasagna pasta sheets (no boil or cook), or make your own- Authentic Homemade Pasta Recipe
- Sugo al pomodoro
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Spinach, cooked
- Whole milk ricotta
- Egg
- Ground nutmeg (optional)
- Mozzarella cheese
- Parmigiano
- Basil leaves
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
See recipe card for quantities.
A pan of Homemade Lasagna warms your soul!
How To Make Spinach Lasagna with Ricotta
The process for making lasagna is simple. You can make the filling and sauce ahead of time and assemble them when you are ready to bake!
This dish starts with a spinach and ricotta filling, which is a mixture of cooked chopped spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, a cup grated parmesan cheese, herbs, and spices. Then, a simple tomato sauce. I recommend making your own fresh sauce but you can definitely use store bought if you already have it on hand.
Start layering the lasagna by placing a bit of tomato sauce in the bottom of a baking pan.
Layer the cooked lasagna pasta (see this post if boiling the lasagna noodles) or no-boil pasta noodles (as seen in the photo) on top of the tomato sauce. Either no boil or boil yourself works for this recipe.
Add part of the spinach-ricotta cheese mixture and then more of the tomato sauce.
Repeat the layers until the pan is full, making sure that the red sauce is the top layer. Add more cheese and done! Ready to bake the lasagna until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Once the dish is baked, let it cool a bit, cut into portions, and serve.
At this point, you can cover it with saran wrap and foil and freeze it for a rainy day when you need an oven-ready meal. It is also fabulous to take to a friend or neighbor who needs a meal.
FAQ
Yes, but make sure you squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible so the lasagna doesn’t get watery or runny.
Yes, you can substitute cottage cheese with a 1:1 ratio. Cottage cheese is slightly lighter while using ricotta the lasagna will be thicker and richer.
There are a few reasons your lasagna is watery. If you use frozen spinach, you may not have drained or squeezed as much of the liquid out as possible. Using wet noodles that were not drained properly is another probable cause.
Yes, but the lasagna may be a little more loose than you’re used to but it will taste the same. You can omit altogether or use an egg substitute like cream with cornstarch.
This recipe includes: Homemade sugo al pomodoro (tomato sauce), freshly grated cheeses, fresh ricotta cheese, earthy spinach, and a hint of spices. This recipe highlights simple fresh ingredients as traditional Italian recipes commonly do.
If you ever feel like you’ve ingested a brick bomb after eating a heavy lasagna I promise you won’t feel that way after this light and fresh recipe. It is the true Italian way just like my Nonna used to make for us.
The canned sauces are packed full of fat, salt, and sugar. That’s why it’s always better to make your own sauce. You’ll eat a much healthier meal, you won’t add all the salt, sugar, and fat, and you know exactly what you’re eating. I make a big batch of our Sugo al Pomodoro (Classic Italian Tomato Sauce) and freeze it in portions to always have on hand. You can’t beat the fresh taste!
For this recipe, you cook the lasagna noodles before building the lasagna. This creates a more authentic lasagna recipe. Cook the noodles in salted boiling water according to the directions on the package, then lay the cooked noodles on a flat surface so that they won’t stick together. See this post on how to cook pasta perfectly every time. However, if you are in a pinch you can use no-boil pasta lasagna sheets. Here is what you need to do for that.
Using no-boil lasagna noodles decreases the prep time for homemade lasagna by at about 15 minutes total. If you use the no-boil variety you will need to add more liquid and cover the lasagna tightly until the end before you brown the cheesy top.
1. No-boil lasagna noodles are often thinner than regular lasagna noodles and are already partially cooked in a water bath before they were dried and packaged.
2. They don’t require boiling, but they need additional liquid to reconstitute them during the baking process. Adding 1/4 cup of water to the sauce adds the extra liquid needed for the noodles to cook without making the lasagna dry.
3. Lasagnas that contain no-boil noodles should be kept tightly covered with a lid or foil during baking so the steam can help cook the noodles. Take off the cover during the last 5-10 minutes to brown the cheese layer.
Expert Tips & Tricks
- I recommend using whole milk ricotta and mozzarella cheese for the best flavor. That being said. Yes, you can substitute for part-skim versions if you need. The cheese won’t melt as nicely since low-fat cheese contains added stabilizers.
- Use freshly shredded cheese, not a bag of pre-shredded cheese. The bagged shredded cheese from the grocery store often contains anti-caking agents and does not melt smoothly. Read more about you should shred your own cheese HERE.
- If possible make your own red sauce (sugo al pomodoro). It takes 20 minutes and is worth the fresh and light flavor. I make mine in large batches and freeze them in containers. I can pull one out whenever I need it for a recipe.
- Make sure to squeeze all the excess water out of the cooked spinach. This will prevent your lasagna from getting watery as it bakes.
- You can use 2 boxes of frozen spinach instead of fresh spinach. If you use frozen spinach, make sure to squeeze the water out of the spinach after you thaw it to room temperature.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
You can freeze lasagna bolognese both uncooked and cooked, whole or in pieces. In both cases you will get an excellent result by following these tips:
Freezing Uncooked Lasagna
- Simply assemble your lasagna in your oven-safe dish and cover it generously with plastic wrap.
- When ready to eat the frozen lasagna defrost it the night before so that it thaws perfectly.
- You can also pull straight from the freezer and add 30 minutes to the cooking time.
Freezing Cooked Lasagna
- If you have any cooked lasagna that is leftover you can freeze it in portions by wrapping individual slices in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. Make sure to let the lasagna cool before freezing.
- When you want to reheat it, defrost the lasagna a few hours ahead of time and then reheat it in the oven at 400 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
- TIP: When reheating lasagna in the oven cover the surface with aluminum foil to prevent it from cooking the top of the lasagna even more.
Making ahead of time:
- This dish can be assembled up to 6 hours before you plan to bake it. Store it covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake and eat it.
- You can store any leftover lasagna in the fridge for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Recipe Variations
This spinach lasagna is simply delicious as-is. It is our family recipe and we love it this way! You can add some of your favorite flavors to customize it to your tastes if you like. Here are options for you:
- Meat: Add meat to the red sauce such as crumbled and cooked Italian sausage, cooked ground beef, or diced grilled chicken.
- Veggies: Feel free to add other vegetables such as mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, or carrots.
- Greens: You can substitute kale, escarole, or other cooked greens for spinach.
- Cheese: Try adding some other cheeses such as fontina, provolone, or Pecorino Romano.
- Spices: try adding other herbs and spices like garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, thyme, or rosemary.
If you love spinach recipes, you will also enjoy this Easy Creamed Spinach Recipe!
Serving Suggestions
Serve it with salad on a weeknight or alongside a platter of my signature polpette (Italian meatballs), or Italian Braciole Recipe (Stuffed Beef with Sauce) for Sunday dinner. Add some homemade bread, and you are all set! Or you can also check these Classic Italian Recipes for dinner!
Don’t forget dessert: Creamy Frozen Lemon Bars with Graham Cracker Crust, Italian Fruit Salad, and Classic Italian Tiramisu Recipe (Authentic).
See this post for What to Serve with Lasagna (50 Best Side Dishes).
Made with Amore, Elena
From My Cucina to your Table- Mangia! Mangia! (Eat!)
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THIS Authentic SPINACH AND RICOTTA Lasagna makes a great meal to take to a friend in need. Assemble it in a disposable tinfoil container and brighten someones day!
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Spinach Lasagna with Ricotta Recipe
Saucy sugo al pomodoro, creamy cheesy, earthy spinach, and tasty basil lasagna! A mouthful of savory and delicious goodness. This recipe highlights simple fresh ingredients as traditional Italian recipes commonly do.
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 12 to 16 dried lasagna pasta (also use no boil if desired)
- 3 to 4 cups sugo al pomodoro
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups (1 1/2 pounds fresh) spinach, cooked (steamed or sautéed, liquid removed)
- 32 oz (2 LB) cups whole milk ricotta
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp fresh ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups coarsely grated mozzarella cheese (extra for top)
- 2 cups grated Parmegiano (extra for top)
- 6 fresh basil leaves, torn with hands
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Make a batch of the Sugo al Pomodoro (tomato sauce). Set aside.
- Steam or saute spinach and remove liquid. Cool completely. Cut to create small pieces.
- Mix the ricotta, egg, parmigiano, nutmeg (if using) and basil in a large bowl until combined. Once spinach is cooled, combine with ricotta mixture.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (skip steps 5-6 if using no boil noodles)
- Cook the noodles (6 at a time for dried pasta) until they are tender but still underdone (they will finish cooking as the lasagna bakes). Set aside in a bowl of cold water until ready to use. This will prevent pasta from sticking.
- Grease a 9X13 rectangular baking dish with the olive oil, add a large dollop of tomato sauce and spread it around the bottom of the pan. Put a layer of pasta (use 4-5 depending on size) in the dish (you may need to cut any excess to make them fit) top with a layer of tomato sauce, one-third of the spinach and ricotta mixture, and one-third of the grated mozzarella (use your fingers to spread it evenly). Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Repeat the layers three times. For the top, cover with extra cheese.
- The lasagna may be made ahead to this point, wrapped tightly and refrigerated for up to a day or frozen.
- Bake until the lasagna is bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly browned on top, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest a few minutes before serving, or cool completely, cover well, and refrigerate for up to 3 days, or freeze.
Notes
This is a great freezer and make ahead recipe as well. You can freeze the entire pan of pre-baked and assembled lasagna for up to 3 weeks. When ready to use simple bake for an additional 30 min (until the center is fully cooked).
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian
Absolutely delicious!
It is a family favorite we love! Happy you enjoed it.
I made this last night, it was beautiful, easy and best-tasting lasagna i’ve ever had. used no-boil noodles and the tip for adding extra water to the sauce was great, also made my own tomato sauce like your recipe said. I used fresh spinach and added as a layer instead of cooking and adding to the ricotta. i do recommend baking for an hour on 350 instead if you can. thank you for the recipe!
Leah, I am so happy you loved the recipe. IT is a “fresh” lasagna we make often.
So yummy! I made this for my husband on Father’s Day and he loved it. The family of four devoured the whole pan.
So happy everyone enjoys it! I always love leftover lasagna, but we never have any either, ha!
First recipe of yours I’ve tried. We love lasagna but have never made it without meat. We loved this ! I used frozen spinach and it was delish !!! Thanks for a keeper lasagna recipe !
Joan, I am so happy you loved the lasagna recipe. It is a classic! I hope to bring many more recipes to your table.
This recipe is fresh and comforting all in one! Easy to make!
I totally agree!
I love lasagna and this is the best lasagna recipe I’ve come across!
So happy to hear that! I hope it can become a family staple.
This is the most authentic spinach and ricotta lasagna recipe. It is easy to make, light and still filling. The kids love it too.
I’m not going to lie, I am not a lasagna fan usually. But I gave it a try and I became obsessed! I may have made it once a week for a month. So delicious!
So happy you loved it! It is so “fresh” for a lasagna recipe!
Lasagna has always intimidated me but this recipe looked too good not to try. I have made it multiple times now and every time it is a hit! I love all the tips and tricks along the way and I can even get my boyfriends little girl to eat it, spinach and all!!
It’s amazing how kids gobble up spinach when it’s sandwiched between cheese and pasta!
We LOVE this Lasagna! It has become my go to party entree because everyone loves it! I always double the recipe so I can freeze one for later and it tastes just as good from the freezer. We make meals from Elena weekly because she has a perfect balance of simplicity that somehow brings out the best flavors and her care to the details of time, order and little tricks make her simple recipes taste like they came straight from Italy.
Thanks Tiffany! The beauty of Italian cooking is the simplicity. I hope you enjoy for years to come!
Elena
Can you use frozen spinach?
Yes! Make sure all the liquid is cooked out!
Elena