Cheesy • Comforting • Protein-Boosted • Family-Friendly
Quick Description
A warm, ultra-comforting vegetable lasagna layered with sautéed veggies, rich tomato sauce, creamy cheese filling, and perfectly melted mozzarella on top. Designed to be lighter, higher in protein, and packed with vegetables — without losing the classic lasagna taste everyone loves.
Servings & Timing
Servings: 6–8
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: 55–60 minutes
Protein: ~28–32g per serving (depends on cheese + cottage cheese amount)
Ingredients
For the Vegetable Filling
- 2 cups spinach (fresh or frozen, squeezed dry)
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup bell peppers, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt to taste
For the Tomato Sauce Layer
- 2½ cups marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 tsp oregano
- ½ tsp chili flakes (optional)
Protein-Rich Cheese Filling
- 1½ cups cottage cheese OR ricotta
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (adds protein & creaminess)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- Salt & pepper
For the Layers
- 9–12 lasagna sheets (regular or oven-ready)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella (or more for cheesier topping)
Optional Add-Ins (More Volume + More Protein)
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
- ½ cup zucchini slices
- ½ cup broccoli, chopped
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast (extra protein + flavor)
Instructions
1. Cook the vegetables
Heat olive oil in a pan.
Add onions, garlic, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Sauté 4–5 minutes.
Add spinach and tomatoes. Cook until softened.
Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Set aside.
2. Make the protein-packed cheese mixture
In a bowl combine:
- Cottage cheese/ricotta
- Greek yogurt
- Egg
- Parmesan
- Salt & pepper
Mix until smooth and creamy.
3. Prepare the tomato sauce
In a separate bowl or pot:
- Combine marinara sauce
- Add oregano and chili flakes
Stir well.
4. Layer the lasagna
In a baking dish:
✔ Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce
✔ Add lasagna sheets
✔ Add vegetable mixture
✔ Add dollops of cheese filling
✔ Add a handful of mozzarella
Repeat these layers until the dish is full.
Finish the top with a generous layer of mozzarella.
5. Bake
Cover with foil and bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes.
Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
6. Rest & Serve
Let the lasagna rest 10 minutes before cutting.
This helps the layers set for perfect slices.
Storage & Meal Prep
Fridge:
Keeps 4–5 days. Reheat in microwave or oven.
Freezer:
Freezes beautifully up to 2 months.
Freeze in slices for easy meal prep.
Tip: Add fresh mozzarella or herbs after reheating for best flavor.
Make It High-Protein
Choose any (or all):
✔ Replace ricotta with cottage cheese
✔ Add ½ cup Greek yogurt to filling
✔ Add shredded chicken between layers
✔ Use high-protein lasagna sheets (available in some stores)
✔ Add 1–2 tbsp nutritional yeast
✔ Extra parmesan for protein + flavor
Flavor Upgrade Tips
- Add roasted garlic into the cheese layer
- Mix basil or fresh parsley into vegetable filling
- Sprinkle chili flakes on top for heat
- Add a spoon of pesto between layers
- Use fire-roasted tomatoes in the sauce
- Add a pinch of smoked paprika to the veggies
- Top finished lasagna with fresh basil leaves
