Chicken Butternut Squash Lasagna doesn’t contain pasta — the gluten-free lasagna noodles are thin strips of butternut squash. It’s one of the most unique gluten-free lasagna recipes out there!
Inspiration
I’m always in search of the perfect lasagna noodles — those that aren’t pasta, that is.
Not only do I love unique gluten-free lasagna recipes like this, but they’re also perfect for my son with Celiac Disease.
I love finding new ways to separate layers of delicious sauce and melting cheese with vegetables.
So, what can you use instead of pasta in lasagna? Butternut squash!
How to Make Butternut Squash Gluten-Free Lasagna Noodles
There are only three steps to create the noodles:
- Peel the squash.
- Cut it into very thin slices.
- Steam the squash slices.
When cooking gluten-free, I generally prefer to use a totally different ingredient, rather than to try to mimic the one I’m omitting. In the case of lasagna, I actually really like brown rice lasagna noodles — however, it’s so much more fun and interesting to use other foods that lend themselves to this sort of dish.
Foods that not only function as a noodle would by forming layers, but can also bring a lot of additional flavors into the recipe.
Enter, Butternut Squash Lasagna “noodles,” making their first appearance into the world of unique gluten-free lasagna recipes. (At least, as far as I know. 😉 )
What else is in Chicken and Butternut Squash Lasagna?
In addition to the squash and chicken, the ingredients in this recipe are dreamy together.
- red onion
- garlic
- balsamic vinegar
- cinnamon
- allspice
- tomatoes
- Ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- egg
- spinach
This lasagna is so delicious — out of all lasagnas, not just in the gluten-free category.
I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do, and if you have your own ideas for unique gluten-free lasagna recipes, please share them in the comments.
More recipes with unique gluten-free lasagna noodles:
- Swiss Chard Vegetarian Lasagna – In this one, the big beautiful Swiss chard leaves are the “noodles.”
- Zucchini Lasanga from Skinny Taste – Yep, zucchini “noodles.”
Please don’t be daunted by the lengthy recipe — it’s a great weekend cooking project, and well worth the time!
Chicken Butternut Squash Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients
- olive oil for the pan
- 2 cups red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 (28-ounce can) crushed tomatoes
- 1 (approximately 3-pound) butternut squash
- 4 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 3 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated
- 2 1/2 cups packed spinach leaves, washed, dried, and stems removed
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
To make the sauce
- Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic to the pan. Sauté, stirring every so often, until the onions are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, cinnamon and allspice, and sauté for another couple of minutes.
- Move the onion mixture to one side of the pan, and add a bit more olive oil to the empty side. Add the ground chicken to the empty side and sauté, stirring and breaking up the chicken into smaller pieces, until it's cooked. Mix it into the onion mixture, and continue to sauté until the chicken is golden brown.
- Add the tomato and stir to blend, using a flat-bottomed spatula to scrape any stuck bits of food off of the bottom of the pan.
- Turn the heat to low and simmer until the sauce becomes rich and a bit thicker, 30 to 40 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's how to season to taste.) Set aside.
To prepare the butternut squash
- Cut about 1/2-inch off of each end, and use a Chef's knife to peel it. Starting at the top, begin cutting downward, just inside the skin. Take the knife all the way to the bottom, and then repeat this all around the squash. If it's easier for you, cut the squash in half horizontally before peeling it -- you'll avoid having to curve the knife as much this way. Now (if you haven't already), cut the squash in half, horizontally. Use a Mandoline, on a very thin slicing setting, to cut the squash vertically. Make as many slices as possible -- when you get to the seeds, just start slicing the other side. It's okay if some of the slices have the center hole in them -- your slices will not all be the same size and many will be irregularly shaped. (Refer to the image above the recipe for guidance. And if you don't have a Mandoline, you can use a very sharp Chef's knife to make thin slices.)
- Put a large steamer into a large pot with the water level just below it. Over high heat, bring the water to a boil and then add the squash slices to the rack. The slices will be overlapping and piled on top of each other. (If your pile of squash slices is super high however, you will have an easier time if you steam them in two batches.) Cover the pot and steam until the slices are tender, but not too tender! They should be bendable, but not soft. This should take about 5 minutes. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the slices and the pot. Set aside to cool.
To assemble and bake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and adjust a rack to the top third of the oven.
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl mix the ricotta with the egg and season to taste with salt and pepper. (Here's how to season to taste.) Set aside.
- Add about 1 cup of the sauce to the bottom of a 9 X 13 X 3-inch baking pan, and spread it out evenly.
- Cover the sauce with an even layer of slightly overlapping slices of squash, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Pour about 1/2 of the remaining sauce on top of the squash and smooth it out.
- Follow the sauce with about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and a sprinkling of about 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
- Coat this with an even layer of about 1/3 of the spinach leaves -- they should be slightly overlapping.
- Starting with the squash, repeat this layering process once more.
- On top of the second layering, add the final layer of the squash (sprinkling it with salt and pepper) and the last of the ricotta mixture, topped with the remaining mozzarella.
- Bake in the preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes. The edges should be bubbling, and the top should be golden brown when it's done. If you notice it's getting too brown during the baking time, cover it lightly with foil. And if after 30 minutes, the top hasn't browned, place the pan under the broiler for about 30 seconds -- just to brown it.
- Let the lasagna sit, covered lightly with foil, for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
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David says
Valentina – this is the perfect GF lasagne. When I first saw the photo, I assumed it was corn tortillas instead of pasta, and I thought I saw some Hatch chiles in there, too – but I was wrong! The combo of the chicken, tomatoes and spices with the squash is lovely. Thanks!
valentina says
Thank YOU, David. For reading, commenting, etc. XO
Ash-foodfashionparty says
I have to get some brown rice lasagna noodles, this looks so good. I’ve not tried a lot of gluten free pastas, do you have a brand in particular?
Serisouly this bake looks so delicious and the layers, oh so healthy and yum.
valentina says
Thanks so much, Asha. For brown rice lasagna noodles I like De Boles. 🙂
Deb says
Butternut squash is a favorite this time of year! An ingenious lasagna just bursting with seasonal flavor!
valentina says
Thank you, Deb!! 😀
Lauren says
What a neat idea! I too am often in search of pasta alternatives since the real stuff often makes me feel blah. I bet these hold up a lot better than zucchini. I can’t wait to give this a try! 🙂
valentina says
Thanks, Lauren. I hope you give it a go. 🙂
Colette says
This looks crazy good! I didn’t feel like cooking tonight. So, we went out.
But, next Sunday, this will be on our table! xo
valentina says
you are the sweetest, Colette!
Mary says
Made this for my daughter in law’s shower. Every one raved about about it!
It turned out so well and was delicious. Everything last piece was gone.
I will make it again for sure. Thanks so much for the recipe!
valentina says
You’ve just made my day, Mary! Thank you. So happy you all loved it. It’s one of our favorites and so lovely this time of year. 🙂
Maureen says
This looks AMAZING & butternut squash is my favorite so I can’t wait to try this.
valentina says
YAY! Hope you do and love it! XO
Kelly | Foodtasia says
Valentina, I’m so amazed by this lasagna! Using butternut squash “noodles” is absolutely brilliant! And all the layers look so yummy and delicious!
valentina says
Thank you, Kelly! I hope you give it a go. Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced says
Yup, you win a prize for the most unique “pasta” in the world of gluten-free lasagnas! But with that said, this lasagna sounds delicious! Butternut squash would be sturdy enough to hold up to lasagna (sometimes noodles can’t even do that…), but it would also bring a ton of flavor. I’m loving this idea, Val!!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Using squash as the ‘noodle’? What an awesome idea! Plus, such a great way to get more veggies! Those layers are perfect and I imagine this would be lovely on Friday night with a glass of vino 😉