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Loaded Veggie White Lasagna

Creamy white sauce lasagna loaded with colorful vegetables, perfect for vegetarian comfort food and family dinners.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian, Vegetarian
Calories: 420

Ingredients
  

White Sauce
  • 4 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups whole milk warmed
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp white pepper
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
Vegetable Layer
  • 2 large zucchini sliced lengthwise
  • 2 red bell peppers roasted and cut into strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper roasted and cut into strips
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced and sautéed
  • 5 oz fresh spinach wilted and drained
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
Assembly
  • 12 lasagna noodles cooked al dente
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 tbsp fresh oregano chopped

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Large saucepan
  • Large skillet
  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
  2. Make white sauce by melting butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook 2 minutes stirring constantly.
  3. Gradually add warm milk while whisking continuously. Cook, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens, about 8-10 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Set aside to cool slightly.
  5. Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté zucchini strips until lightly golden, 3-4 minutes per side. Season and set aside.
  6. Cook mushrooms in same skillet until golden and moisture evaporated, about 6-8 minutes. Season and set aside.
  7. Wilt spinach in skillet with splash of water, then drain thoroughly and squeeze out excess moisture.
  8. Combine ricotta cheese, eggs, fresh basil, oregano, and 1 cup mozzarella in large bowl. Mix until well combined.
  9. Spread thin layer of white sauce on bottom of prepared baking dish.
  10. Layer 4 noodles, half ricotta mixture, half vegetables, and one-third remaining white sauce.
  11. Repeat with 4 noodles, remaining ricotta, remaining vegetables, and another third white sauce.
  12. Top with final 4 noodles, remaining white sauce, remaining mozzarella, and grated Parmesan.
  13. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  14. Let rest 15 minutes before slicing to allow layers to set properly.

Notes

Pre-cooking vegetables removes excess moisture and prevents watery lasagna. Can be assembled up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated before baking. Freezes well for up to 3 months.