This is layered zucchini lasagna with rich meat sauce and creamy cheese. A high-protein, low-carb comfort meal that’s perfect for meal prep!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Layers of tender zucchini, savory meat sauce, and melted cheese
- Extremely high protein from ground meat and ricotta
- No pasta needed — light and satisfying
- Great for meal prep in containers
- Low carb and sugar-free
Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef or turkey
- 3–4 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise into thin strips
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1½ cups sugar-free marinara or tomato sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Optional: fresh basil or extra black pepper for topping
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, cook 2 minutes. Add ground meat, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer 5 minutes.
- Lightly salt the zucchini slices and let them sit 5–10 minutes, then pat dry (this removes excess water).
- In a baking dish or meal-prep containers, layer: a little meat sauce, zucchini slices, dollops of ricotta, more sauce, and a sprinkle of mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat layers, finishing with sauce and cheese on top.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and zucchini is tender.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with extra black pepper or basil if desired.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Total Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition (Per Serving)
- Calories: ~320
- Protein: 35g
- Total Carbs: 9g
- Net Carbs: 7g
- Fat: 16g
