Gluten-Free Lasagna (Not Mushy, Foolproof!)

Make the best gluten-free lasagna with this ultimate recipe! Layers of homemade meat sauce, ricotta filling, and lots of gooey cheese make this a comforting dish with plenty of pro tips for perfectly cooked noodles!

best gluten-free lasagna recipe 

Lasagna is the ultimate comfort food (right up there with baked mac and cheese). It’s a meal no one should live without, especially when you are on a gluten-free diet!

Making a homemade gluten-free lasagna is easy to manage with a few simple tips and tricks, many of which are shared here and in my gluten-free cookbook. Discover the best tasting lasagna noodles, how to cook them perfectly al dente (without being mushy), and expert tips for layering.

Once you have mastered this recipe for gluten-free lasagna you will have the confidence to tackle other foolproof recipes, such as gluten-free gnocchi, baked ziti, and gluten-free alfredo! Let’s start cooking!

Ingredients notes 

• Italian Sausage – I use sweet Italian sausage to keep the recipe kid-friendly, but spicy sausage may also be used.
• Ground Beef – Lean ground beef works best to avoid a greasy sauce.
• Ricotta Cheese – Use whole-milk ricotta for best flavor and part-skim to save calories.
• Cheese – A combination of mozzarella and parmesan cheese for the best taste.
• Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles – The most important aspect when making a winning gluten-free lasagna! My preferred brand is Barilla Gluten-Free Lasagne Sheets. See the notes below for important tips, and what to look out for when substituting other brands.

pro tips for gluten-free lasagna noodles

Avoid the biggest pain point when making gluten-free lasagna – mushy noodles. Follow the tips below and your dinner guests will enjoy a lasagna so good, no one will know it’s gluten-free!

• Use oven-ready lasagne noodles for best results. Skip the boiling before layering which prevents a mushy texture.
• If you do use lasagna noodles that aren’t labeled “oven-ready,” skip boiling first. This lasagna recipe cooks longer covered with foil so the noodles cook to perfection while it bakes.
• Avoid overlapping noodles as much as possible. Stacked noodles will glue themselves together during baking and become chewy, instead of tender.
• Gluten-Free Barilla noodles are rather short, so if you want to cover the whole dish, break them to fit.

How To Make gluten-free lasagna

(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until sausage is browned and no longer pink.
2. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a low simmer and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
3. Meanwhile, make the ricotta cheese mixture by combining the ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
4. In a 9X13 baking pan spread 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce. Top with 4 uncooked lasagna noodles, half the ricotta mixture and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat with another layer of noodles, remaining ricotta, 1 cup cheese, and 2 cups sauce. Place on remaining lasagne sheets, sauce, and finish with remaining mozzarella cheese. Make sure all the noodles are covered in sauce so they don’t become hard during baking. 
5. Spray a large piece of foil with nonstick cooking spray. Cover securely and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil and bake for 15-20 minutes longer, or until noodles are soft throughout.

pro tips for layering lasagna

• Since this gluten-free recipe doesn’t boil the lasagna sheets before layering, make sure they do not overlap. This prevents the noodles from sticking together during baking, making them chewy instead of tender.
• A good amount of sauce on the bottom layer and top layer will create moisture to steam the noodles as the lasagna bakes.
• The final layer of sauce should fully cover the noodles so they don’t become hard during baking.
• To prevent the noodles moving around while spreading on the ricotta filling, first evenly distribute ricotta dollops, then gently spread.
• When you are finished layering, spray a large sheet of foil with cooking spray to prevent cheese from sticking to it and tightly seal around the baking dish. Heavy duty foil works best, or a double layer of regular foil.

Where to buy gluten-free lasagna noodles

My preferred brand, Barilla Gluten-Free Oven Ready Lasagne, can be picked up at major supermarkets, Target, Walmart, or Meijer. If you cannot find them locally, I’ve also purchased them from in bulk from Amazon because they have a long shelf life.

If you cannot find Barilla brand, you may use another brand of gluten-free lasagna sheets, such as Heartland, DeLallo, Tinkyada, or Jovial. Brands which aren’t made primarily made from brown rice flour hold up best during baking, without a mushy texture.

modifications and shortcuts

• Use turkey sausage or ground turkey, part skim ricotta, and less mozzarella cheese to make a healthier recipe.
• For a spicier recipe, use hot Italian sausage and add a pinch of crushed red pepper to the sauce.
• Instead of making a homemade sauce, brown the Italian sausage and ground beef and mix with two jars of marinara sauce.
• If you don’t care for ricotta, substitute 16 ounces cottage cheese. At least 4% milk fat works best.
• Want the ultimate lasagna shortcut? Make skillet lasagna for a 30 minute weeknight meal!

serving suggestions

Prepare the for this lasagna recipe to be the star of the show! With layers of meat, sauce, pasta, and cheese it’s a complete meal in one dish. Of course, for the ultimate classic meal, make this 1-hour gluten-free french bread and turn it into garlic bread.

Finding sides to go with lasagna or gluten-free meatballs can be tricky since it’s such a filling dish. Therefore, I wrote a complete guide for what to serve with lasagna, with recipes, tips for serving, and the best side dishes.

• Gluten-Free Breadsticks to sop up all that extra sauce!
• Green salads, such as Apple Pecan Salad or Strawberry Feta Salad
• Roasted zucchini or try any of these gluten-free zucchini recipes!
• Marinated Green Bean Salad
• Roasted Cabbage Steaks

make-ahead, reheating, & freezing tips

Reheating:

Refrigerate leftover lasagna in an airtight container up to three days. To reheat in the microwave, heat individual slices at a time. Microwave at 50% power until almost heated through, and then finish at full power to warm completely.

Leftover lasagna may also be frozen in serving-size slices. Wrap each slice in plastic wrap and then transfer to a ziplock freezer bag. Freeze up to three months.

Thaw slices overnight in the fridge and then reheat in the microwave at 50% power until almost heated through, and then finish at full power to warm completely.

If you have a lot of leftovers to reheat at once, place in an oven-proof baking dish. Cover securely with foil and warm in a 325ºF oven until hot throughout.

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