Lasagna is usually quite the indulgent meal. Not often eaten regularly at the dinner table. Made on many holidays or special occasions. So many different varieties are out there but making it lighter to enjoy more often is what you have here today in this recipe.
Not only is this still hearty and full of flavor, but it is considerably lighter in calories and fat than typical lasagna. If you don't have a crock pot, instructions include making it in the oven.
I've made this twice now in the crock pot. The first time with ground beef instead of ground turkey and using a no boil gluten free lasagna noodle. The taste was fantastic but the noodles fell apart into a mushy mess. So the second time I made this I lightened it up even more using ground turkey, reduced the cheese and the hubby said it was still just as good! The kids loved it too!
Now most of you know I'm full blooded Italian and switching up the ricotta cheese to.....(eeek and cringe, don't tell my mother!) low fat cottage cheese ......was really hard for me to do, but it really lightens lasagna up and taste is not effected I promise. 🙂
The noodles I chose are linked below in the recipe and yes, require you to cook them before assembling them in the crock pot, but it is worth the effort! They never fell apart and as you can see from the pictures they stack up and hold their form well with lots of other ingredients in the mix.
Another adaption you can make if your family doesn't like spinach is to just leave it out of the cheese mixture. I love to get in our greens and the kids love spinach! You are the best judge of what your kids will eat so adapt as you like. You can also cut the slices into more servings for less calories, but the 8 servings here makes this a nice hearty piece. Enjoy!
Lightened Up Crock Pot Lasagna [Gluten Free]
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 6 ounce can tomato paste ( I used Hunt's with basil, garlic, oregano)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups low fat cottage cheese or use ricotta
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- ½ cup egg whites or use 2 eggs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups chopped fresh packed spinach
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella part skim
- 9 cooked brown rice lasagna noodles I used Tinkyada
Instructions
- Heat oil in skillet, add turkey, garlic and onion and cook until turkey is browned and no longer pink.
- Pour in marinara sauce, tomato paste and cinnamon.
- Cook another minute or so then set aside.
- In a large bowl mix together cottage cheese, Parmesan, egg whites, salt and spinach. Set aside.
- Spray the inside of your crock pot with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add a small amount of meat sauce over the bottom of the crock pot.
- To Assemble in Crock Pot:
- Place 3 noodles over the sauce.
- Spread half the cottage cheese spinach mixture over the noodles.
- Spread a third of the meat sauce, sprinkle ½ cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Place 3 more noodles, the rest of the cottage cheese spinach mixture, a third more meat sauce and ½ cup of mozzarella.
- Final layer: Place last 3 noodles, the rest of the meat sauce and top with the final ½ cup of mozzarella.
- Cover and cook on low 3 hours.
Notes
Nutrition
To bake in oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare recipe in a 9 by 13 baking dish, but do not add final ½ cup of cheese. Bake for 45 minutes uncovered, then add final mozzarella cheese and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is nicely melted.
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Brandy
I just ran across your recipe the other day. I have it in the crock pot now and just realized I forgot to add the tomato paste! Duh! That's what happens when you have 3 kids yelling "Mom Mom!" At the same time. Haha Do you think it will effect it much? I'm sure it will be a bit soupier than I'd like. Other than that I'm so excited to try this it looks and sounds delicious!! Thank you for sharing.
Brenda
It may be a little looser yes but it shouldn't effect the taste.
Ronni
I just discovered your site and really look forward to trying your recipes. I have 2 questions. 1st do I have to do a detox or can I just start making your recipes to start losing weight? 2nd question is there a certain amount of sugar grams I need to limit myself to per day? I really hope I can get an answer to get me started.
Brenda
All my recipes are free to view and make as you see fit. Will it help you loose weight? I can't answer that for you, you still need to watch your calorie intake. My Sugar Detox program is not free of charge and for those interested in removing sugar's hold in their life. You can read more about that here: https://www.sugarfreemom.com/sugar-detox-plan/
Cheryl
Made this tonight. My family absolutely loved it! I did not use rice noodles (my family does not have a problem with gluten) but used a good lasagna noodle in stead. And I did not pre - cook the noodles either! My family told me this was a whole lot better than the lasagna I used to cook before! And I thought I always did a pretty good job!
Brenda
WOW!!! That's wonderful thank you for sharing, so happy they loved it!
Pat
Made this for dinner yesterday....had enough left to bring a piece for lunch today. Delicious!
rachel
Do i NEED to cook the rice noodles prior to putting the in the crock pot? Or can they also cook in the crock pot?
Rhonda
I have this in my crockpot right now for supper tonight. I love you website and your Facebook page. Thank you for your for your time and energy to help me in this "clean" eating journey!
Ellen
This looks wonderful - I make my own noodles (this isn't too hard with the Kitchen Aid dough roller :)) , do you think I need to cook the fresh ones like you are doing with the dry ones? I love my slow cooker, and will love trying lasagna in it!
Patrice
Could be even lighter if you used zucchini instead of noodles.
Brenda
My family would never eat it with zucchini but feel free to substitute as you wish.
Divya @ Eat Teach Blog
YUM. You are my new favorite person. Can't wait to try this recipe out!
Brenda
🙂 yep.super.yum.