Gluten-Free Lasagna

One of our favorite family meals is homemade lasagna.  The lasagna filling here is packed with flavor.  You can make your lasagna with or without ground beef, but here I add both ground beef and spinach into the sauce.  My absolute favorite mix of cheese in lasagna uses a mixture of ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan cheese.   I find this a perfect complement to the rich meaty and veggie-filled sauce.  Layering the lasagna, as described in the recipe below, means you get an even amount of filling throughout the lasagna in every bite! Yum! Enjoy!

A hot slice of lasagna, ready to be eaten. Mmmm... 

Gluten-Free Lasagna
Makes 9x13 pan

Preheat oven to 375F.

Cook 1 package brown rice lasagna noodles, using 1 minute below the lowest recommended cook-time. Once cooked, rinse under cold water and let sit until ready to assemble lasagna.  You should have ~12 noodles, enough for 4 layers, each with 3 noodles.

Prepare sauce:
Over medium heat, cook until meat is almost all browned:
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 lb ground beef

When beef is almost all browned add and cook 1-2 minutes:
2-3 tsp minced garlic

Add and cook until wilted:
3-4 handfuls baby spinach

Pour and let simmer until you're ready to assemble your lasagna:
2 jars spaghetti sauce (I prefer Classico b/c they don't add sugar to their sauce)

Sauce ready to go! Leave on low to simmer while you're preparing the other parts of the lasagna.

Prepare cheese filling:
In a bowl, mix together:
1 container ricotta cheese
1 cup fresh mozzarella, diced OR 1 cup grated mozzarella
1/4 - 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt & pepper

To assemble your lasagna, layer in the following order in a 9x13 pan:
Layering like this, you get a bit of cheese, meat, spinach & sauce in between each layer of noodles.  Delicious!
Layer 1: 
Generous layer of sauce
Layer of noodles
1/3 cheese filling, spread along the noodles
Light drizzle of sauce
Layer 2:
Layer of noodles
1/3 cheese filling
Light drizzle of sauce
Layer 3: 
Layer of noodles
1/3 cheese filling
Light drizzle of sauce
Top Layer:
Layer of noodles
Cover fully with sauce
Sprinkle with additional grated Parmesan cheese

On left, generous layer of sauce and layer of noodles.  On each layer add some ricotta filling and a little sauce.

Try to make each layer with even amounts of ricotta filling with a little sauce.  Top with layer of noodles.

Use remaining sauce generously over the top of the noodles.  Sprinkle with Parmesan before cooking.

Bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes.  Let sit 10 minutes before cutting and serving.  Wonderful served with a side of salad and GF garlic bread. Yes, leftovers either refrigerated or frozen are wonderful. Enjoy!

Fresh out of the oven. Let rest before cutting and eating! Yum!