• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Seeking Good Eats logo

  • Recipes
  • by Course
  • Low Carb & Keto
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Casseroles

    Eggplant Lasagna (Low Carb!)

    Published: Jul 25, 2020 · Modified: Mar 22, 2021 by seekinggoodeats · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Yummly
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Pinterest pin featuring two images one of the eggplant lasagna being served out of a casserole dish, the second image of a serving on a white plate and garnished with basil.

    This Eggplant Lasagna is a tasty alternative to the carb-filled pasta version! This lasagna with eggplant recipe is made extra tasty by roasting the eggplant and layering with italian sausage, marinara sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan.

    a serving of eggplant lasagna served on a white plate
    Jump to:
    • Watch how to make this recipe for Eggplant Lasagna
    • You'll love Keto Eggplant Lasagna
    • Eggplant Lasagna Recipe Ingredients
    • Eggplant Lasagna with Meat variations
    • How to make Eggplant Lasagna
    • Eggplant Lasagna Recipe tips
    • How to serve Keto Eggplant Lasagna
    • Eggplant Lasagna Keto storage
    • Eggplant Lasagna FAQs
    • More Italian Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Watch how to make this recipe for Eggplant Lasagna

    You'll love Keto Eggplant Lasagna

    If you're an eggplant lover I know you'll want to try Low Carb Eggplant Parmesan, Grilled Eggplant Caprese Salad, and this Healthy Tomato and Eggplant Salad - all three are delicious ways to use up all that eggplant coming out of your garden!

    Easy Casserole. This casserole is easy! Instead of having to dip and coat the eggplant, you only need to spray or brush on olive oil (spray is the quickest and easiest) and then roast the eggplant slices. From there, you layer the ingredients in a casserole dish and bake.

    It's Delicious. Eggplant lasagna is so flavorful and full of ooey gooey melted cheese. I can promise you will not miss the pasta in this dish. Eggplant actually adds more flavor to the dish than just using pasta.

    Healthy. Eggplant lasagna is gluten free, low carb, and keto friendly. By using eggplant instead of lasagna noodles you save loads of carbs. This dish is made keto by the addition of ketogenic approved fats from olive oil, meat, and cheeses. There are 8 servings in this dish and each serving has only 6.2 g net carbs, nice!

    Eggplant Lasagna Recipe Ingredients

    Here are the ingredients you'll need to make eggplant lasagna:

    • Fresh Eggplant
    • Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • Italian Sausage - using Italian sausage it adds a lot of flavor, but ground beef can be substituted.
    • Ricotta Cheese - fat free or regular can be used, cottage cheese can be substituted.
    • Frozen Spinach - the spinach needs to be thawed then squeeze the liquid out of it between two paper towels.
    • Egg
    • Fresh Grated Mozzarella - it is best to use freshly grated mozzarella in this dish.
    • Parmesan Cheese
    • Marinara Sauce - use sugar free if you are following a low carb or keto plan.

    Can I substitute ground beef for Italian sausage?

    Yes, you can substitute ground beef for Italian sausage. It doesn't of course have the same flavor so you may need to make some seasoning adjustments for flavor. Definitely add 1 tsp Italian seasoning to the marinara sauce. You may also need to use salt and pepper.

    Eggplant Lasagna with Meat variations

    Substitute Italian sausage with ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken.

    How to make Eggplant Lasagna

    Here's how to make this eggplant lasagna:

    Roast Eggplant Slices

    Soak the eggplant slices in salted water for 30 minutes. Drain and dry with paper towels.

    Preheat the oven to broil, adjusting the top oven rack to within 6 to 8" of the heat.

    Spray eggplant slices with olive oil spray then lay on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil. Alternatively, brush olive oil on the eggplant slices. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes until eggplant is golden brown. Turn over and repeat. Set eggplant aside.

    Turn the oven down to bake at 375º F

    Brown Italian Sausage

    In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown Italian sausage. Drain fat. Set aside.

    Mix Ricotta, Egg, and Spinach

    In a small bowl, combine ricotta, egg, and spinach. 

    Assemble Casserole

    Spray a 13" x 9" casserole dish with nonstick spray. Spread 1/3 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the dish.

    Lay half of the eggplant slices on top of the marinara sauce. Then spread half of the remaining marinara sauce over the top of the eggplant slices. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, then sprinkle half the Italian sausage, half of the mozzarella cheese, and half of the parmesan cheese.

    Lay the remaining eggplant slices, and repeat with all ingredients, ending with parmesan cheese.

    Bake Casserole

    Bake eggplant lasagna for 40 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. 

    Assembling and Baking Eggplant Lasagna | Seeking Good Eats

    Eggplant Lasagna Recipe tips

    • The eggplant will immediately soak up the olive oil. To prevent this, simultaneously drizzle and spread the oil with a brush. This will evenly coat the eggplant slices. Another option - olive oil cooking spray. Make sure to get 100% extra virgin olive oil cooking spray that doesn't use propellants. I found this method to work the best.
    • To prevent the eggplant from sticking, lay the slices on nonstick foil. They come up extra easy this way!
    • You can substitute ground beef for Italian sausage if you like. If you do decide to substitute, I recommend that you at least 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to your ricotta mixture.
    • You can substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if you prefer one over the other.

    How to serve Keto Eggplant Lasagna

    Serve keto eggplant lasagna with a fresh green salad and a favorite salad dressing such as this zesty Italian. It also pairs well with these easy air fryer green beans or broccoli.

    Eggplant Lasagna Keto storage

    Store leftover eggplant lasagna in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Because the eggplant turns mushy, it does not freeze well.

    Can I freeze eggplant lasagna?

    The best way to do this is to assemble the casserole in a freezer and oven safe 13 x 9" pan that has a lid. Proceed with all steps, cover with lid, and freeze. Alternatively, you can bake, cool, then freeze.

    Thaw the casserole 36 - 48 hours in advance of when you want to eat it. Bake until the eggplant lasagna is heated through and the cheese is bubbly.

    How long will eggplant lasagna keep in the refrigerator?

    Eggplant lasagna will keep for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator after it has been baked. By the way, it makes the BEST leftover lunches!

    Eggplant Lasagna FAQs

    How can I reduce the fat in eggplant lasagna?

    You can reduce the fat of eggplant lasagna, by using low-fat or fat-free ricotta or cottage cheese. You can also use a part-skim mozzarella. In addition, you can spray your eggplant slices lightly with olive oil spray and place them on a nonstick baking sheet. This will reduce the amount of olive oil needed.

    Why is my eggplant lasagna watery?

    The eggplant can be very watery as well as some tomato sauces. Eggplant should be thoroughly dried with paper towels.

    How do you cut eggplant for lasagna?

    It is best to slice it lengthwise as it helps the layering process.

    How many layers should a lasagna have?

    This will depend upon the recipe, but typically there are 3 layers, sometimes just 2.

    Is it better to peel eggplant before cooking?

    If you have a very mature or older eggplant the skin may be tough, and you should peel the eggplant. If you have a young eggplant the skin will be tender when cooked so there is no need to peel.

    More Italian Recipes

    • Mini Eggplant Pizza Recipe
    • Eggplant Parmesan
    • Italian Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs 
    • Antipasto Salad Recipe
    • Slow Cooker Italian Beef Roast
    • Zucchini Carpaccio
    • Low Carb Chicken in Tomato Basil Cream Sauce

    If you tried this recipe, let me know! I'd love for you to come back and give it a 5-star rating and/or a review in the comments! 🙂 Let's stay connected, so please share photos of your creations with me and others on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! Don't forget to tag #seekinggoodeats

    📋 Recipe

    baked eggplant lasagna served on a white plate and garnished with basil

    Eggplant Lasagna with meat

    A tasty alternative to the carb-filled pasta version! Made extra tasty by roasting the eggplant and layering with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. This is a perfect low carb and keto dish that everyone in your house will enjoy!
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Author Kori
    Prep Time 40 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Casserole
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 465 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 large eggplant (peeled then sliced into ⅓" slices)
    • Extra virgin olive oil cooking spray or 1/2 cup of olive oil
    • 1 pound Italian sausage
    • 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
    • 8 ounce package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and water squeezed out of it)
    • 1 egg
    • 2 cups mozzarella (grated)
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
    • 24 ounces marinara sauce (keto: use sugar free)

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the eggplant slices in salted water for 30 minutes. Drain and dry with paper towels.
    • Preheat oven to broil, adjusting top oven rack to within 6 to 8" of the heat.
    • Spray eggplant slices with olive oil spray then lay on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil. Alternatively, brush olive oil on the eggplant slices. Broil for 2 to 4 minutes until eggplant are golden brown. Turn over and repeat. Set eggplant aside.
    • Turn oven down to bake at 375º F
    • In a skillet over medium high heat, brown Italian sausage. Drain fat. Set aside.
    • In a medium sized bowl, combine ricotta, egg, and spinach. 
    • Spray a 13" x 9" casserole dish with nonstick spray. Spread 1/3 cup of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the dish.
    • Lay half of the eggplant slices on top of marinara sauce. Then spread half of the remaining marinara sauce over the top of the eggplant slices. Spread 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, then sprinkle half the Italian sausage, half of the mozzarella cheese, and half of the parmesan cheese.
    • Lay the remaining eggplant slices, and repeat with all ingredients, ending with parmesan cheese.
    • Bake eggplant lasagna 40 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. 

    Video

    Notes

    • The eggplant will immediately soak up the olive oil. To prevent his, simultaneously drizzle and spread the oil with a brush. This will evenly coat the eggplant slices. Another option - olive oil cooking spray. Make sure to use 100% extra virgin olive oil cooking spray that doesn't use propellants. I found this method to work the best.
    • To prevent the eggplant from sticking, lay the slices on nonstick foil. They come up extra easy this way!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 18casseroleCalories: 465kcalCarbohydrates: 7.9gProtein: 23.1gFat: 38.2gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 770mgFiber: 1.7gSugar: 2.6g

    © 2023 Seeking Good Eats™

    More Casseroles Recipes

    • Sour cream is drizzled over the cheesy baked enchiladas in a 13 inch by 9 inch baking dish.
      Homemade Chicken Enchiladas with Red Sauce
    • A gray rectangle casserole dish with ground beef enchiladas.
      Ground Beef Enchiladas Recipe
    • A white rectangle casserole dish with cheesy bake chicken enchilada casserole.
      Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    • White Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Image of Kori Seeking Good Eats Founder

    Hello! I'm Kori and I am a food LOVER. I've had a lifelong passion for cooking and eating (of course)! At some point that catches up with you, right? Older and wiser, I now watch what I eat more closely. What's the hardest and most frustrating part? Finding recipes that are healthy, easy to make, AND taste great.

    More about me →


    Recent Recipes

    • A clear round glass bowl full of Texas caviar dip garnished with fresh cilantro.
      Easy Cowboy Caviar Recipe
    • Pink pickled onions in a clear jar with a red onion in the background.
      Best Pickled Red Onions Recipe
    • Slices of pork tenderloin topped with brown gravy on mashed potatoes and green peas.
      Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
    • A white bowl piled high with broccoli salad with bacon, cheese, carrots, and nuts.
      Cauliflower Broccoli Salad

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    As featured in collage of websites

    Information

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Accessibility Policy

    About

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See Disclosure page for more information.

    Copyright © 2023 Seeking Good Eats™