Perfectly baked sheets of pasta cradling layers of of melty cheese and bubbling marinara … this vegetarian lasagna is not only super simple, but it is absolutely the BEST Vegetarian Lasagna recipe around.

I’ve been making this vegetarian lasagna recipe for, gosh, at least 20 years. And it is a hit with everyone – every. single. time.

This is more a vegetarian lasagna than a vegetable lasagna, and that is because it is super simple with not a bunch of added veggies. I love a good veggie lasagna, but this one is perfect just as it is, in all its simplicity. Not only does it taste delicious and appeal to everyone in its simplicity, but it’s such a cinch to put together. You don’t even cook the pasta first! For real. I promise it will turn out perfectly.

a tray of lasagna on the counter ready to be cut

Table of Contents

About the Recipe

When I blogged this recipe the first time, I called it “Vegetarian Lasagna – Even Hardcore Carnivores Love This Stuff.” Which is totally true! I’ve fed this to many, many meat-eaters over the years and every single one has loved it.

It’s adapted from a recipe that was in my very first vegetarian cookbook, The Moosewood Cookbook (affiliate link). It’s one of the recipes that convinced me, when I decided to become a vegetarian in my 20’s, that it was all going to be okay. Because, hello, recipes like The Best Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe Ever are amazzzzzing just the way they are – absolutely no meat needed!

Now that I’m rebooting and resharing the recipe, however, I’ve decided to go a bit bolder and claim it The Best Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe Ever.

I know, I totally know, that calling something the best ever is a bit over-the-top and could never really be true because there’s no way you one can really try every single recipe out there for comparison. But seriously, to me, this is truly the best vegetarian lasagna recipe ever.

a piece of vegetarian lasagna being served out of a tray of lasagna

Why You’ll Love this Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe

  1. Everyone I’ve served it to or made it for loves it. LOVES it.
  2. Once you’ve made the sauce, it comes together so easily in comparison with other lasagna recipes. YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE TO COOK THE PASTA FIRST. Pinky swear.
  3. It’s simple. Super simple! No fancy extras. Not needed! Pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, parm, and sauce. The SAUCE.
  4. Seriously, the sauce.

If you want guaranteed success, make this lasagna with the homemade Italian Tomato Sauce that is a part of this recipe. (I’ve also blogged about it separately here – it’s my fave.) Vegetarian lasagna made with the homemade Italian Tomato Sauce is victorious lasagna.

But enough about me. What have other readers like you thought about this recipe? Here’s what they had to say:

  • “I have made a lot of vegetarian lasagna recipes. Most of them  haven’t been great. A few of them have been basically inedible. So in search of a good vegetarian lasagna recipe I tried this one and I’m really glad I did! It’s really delicious and it’s the only leftover that our son is willing to eat without complaint.  I love it. my husband loves it and more importantly our 14 yr old son loves it (less complaining!).”
  • “Made this recipe for Christmas dinner and it was a hit. The sauce is delicious! We aren’t vegetarians but this is BETTER than any lasagnas with meat that  I have tasted!! This recipe is a keeper, highly recommend it! Thank you for sharing.”
  • “I stumbled upon this recipe last Valentine’s Day and made it for my vegetarian girlfriend, and now for every birthday, anniversary, and holiday this is the only dish she wants. The last three times I’ve made it I had to google ‘Best vegetarian lasagna’ and sort through whatever came up trying to remember it, but I’ve finally wised up and bookmarked it AND printed out a hard copy for our home. Thanks so much for this recipe — really simple but really delicious. So nice to find a homemade sauce that tastes this good but is so straightforward and fast. Best lasagna I’ve ever had, and the leftovers are SO good.”
Vegetarian lasagna ready to eat

Vegetarian Lasagna Ingredients

The simple list of ingredients will have you swooning. And while you can substitute the sauce with a jar or two of your favorite store-bought, I implore upon you to try the homemade sauce first. It’s the only thing that takes some work, but it’s SO VERY WORTH IT.

For the sauce, you have:

  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Green bell pepper
  • Italian seasoning
  • Garlic
  • Fire-roasted tomatoes
  • Tomato paste
  • Honey (it helps cut the acidity from the tomatoes)
  • Salt & pepper
  • Parsley

And then for the lasagna itself:

  • A batch of the delicious tomato sauce you just made
  • Lasagna noodles – uncooked!
  • Ricotta
  • Mozzarella
  • Parmesan

Make-Ahead Tips

  • Make the sauce ahead of time for a much faster assembly and cooking time.
  • This vegetarian lasagna is also VERY freezer-friendly! I suggest assembling and fully cooking the lasagna, then warming it up in the oven to serve.
The Best Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe Ever
4.59 from 12 votes

The Best Vegetarian Lasagna Recipe Ever

Prep: 45 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 1 hour 35 minutes
Author: Kare
Yield: 9
Layered pasta cradles a trio of cheeses and sweet Italian tomato sauce, and then it's all baked up until bubbling and gooey. Hearty vegetarian comfort food at its best!
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Ingredients

Italian Tomato Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion (diced small) (about 3 cups)
  • 1 green bell pepper (diced smal) (about 1 1/2 cups)
  • 4 teaspoons Italian herb seasoning
  • 6 medium cloves garlic (minced) (about 2 tablespoons)
  • 1 28-ounce can whole fire-roasted tomatoes (diced fire-roasted tomatoes will work too)
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley

Vegetarian Lasagna

  • 1 batch Italian Tomato Sauce (about 4 cups, or 32 ounces, of sauce)
  • 1 pound lasagna noodles* (uncooked)
  • 1 15- ounce tub (about 1 3/4 cups whole milk ricotta cheese)
  • 1 pound whole milk mozzarella cheese (grated) (about 4 cups)
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ((2 ounces))

Instructions

Make the Italian Tomato Sauce

  • Add the olive oil to a large pan over medium heat. When hot, add the onion, bell pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and translucent and the pepper is tender, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for one more minute.
  • Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, honey or sugar, salt, and pepper. If you’re using whole tomatoes, break up the tomatoes with a spoon. To save time, I will sometimes give whole tomatoes a quick spin in the blender to break them down a bit, then add them to the pot. (This is also a good method if you’re serving people who don’t like tomato chunks in their sauce).
  • Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, over medium heat, until the sauce comes to a boil. Turn the heat to low, partially cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Add the parsley, then remove from the heat.

Make the lasagna

  • Heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Grab a 9-inch by 13-inch baking pan. Smear a little of the sauce on the bottom of the pan. Add a single layer of pasta, breaking to fit as needed. Using a couple of spoons (one to scoop and one to scrape it off), plop half the ricotta all over the noodles in little mounds. Top with 1/3 of the remaining sauce. Sprinkle on half of the mozzarella.
  • Repeat with a layer of pasta, then the rest of the ricotta, then another third of the sauce, then the remaining mozzarella.
  • Add a last layer of pasta and spread the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
  • Bake until bubbly and melty and the pasta is tender, about 45 minutes. If the top begins to get brown, cover with foil during the last 10 minutes or so of baking.
  • Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
  • Keeps refrigerated covered or in an airtight container for about 3 days. It also keeps frozen for several months. I have also frozen single-portion leftovers in individual freezer bags for quick and easy lunches.

Notes

* Whole wheat is a great option, but I recommend cooking to a very al dente state first. With every other pasta, in my experience, uncooked works just fine. It cooks up perfectly in the oven!

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 600kcal, Carbohydrates: 83g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 44mg, Sodium: 608mg, Potassium: 403mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 486IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 363mg, Iron: 2mg
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