One Pan Vegetarian Eggplant Lasagna

This vegetarian eggplant lasagna is for those nights when you have neither the time nor the energy to spend hours in the kitchen, chopping and stirring. The recipe takes all of the components of a vegetarian lasagna – vegetables, tomato sauce, lasagne noodles, and cheese – and quickly builds one layer upon the other. All in one skillet. All on the stovetop.

And, if you ignore the salting and sweating, it takes well under an hour of mostly hands-off time. That’s time you can make a salad, help with a kid’s homework, or just sit down and have a glass of wine.

a pan of pasta, tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese sprinkled with basil

The recipe source

This recipe is a variation on the skillet lasagna from the America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook. It is so simple that it makes my eggplant casserole recipe (a simplification of eggplant parmigiana) look fussy. It’s so obvious a concept that you’ll wonder why you’ve never made dinner this way until now.

FAQs about this vegetarian eggplant lasagna recipe

Lasagna or lasagne?

That’s a great question. “Lasagna” is singular, and “lasagne” is plural (from the Latin word lasanum meaning “a cooking pot”). “Lasagne” is used when talking about the noodles. When talking about the casserole, U.S. convention uses “lasagna,” whereas “lasagne” is used elsewhere.

How do I decide which eggplant to pick at the grocery store?

Smaller eggplants are better because they are less likely to be bitter. Pick an eggplant with smooth skin, is slightly firm, and feels relatively heavier.

Can I freeze leftovers of this lasagna?

Yes, lasagna freezes very well. It just won’t be as pretty. Reheat it in a microwave or in a casserole pan in the oven, with a little bit of water at the bottom and covered with foil.

Do I have to salt the eggplant?

It’s not 100% essential, but salting and sweating the eggplant does decrease the amount of oil that the eggplant takes up, resulting in an improved final texture. Better if you have a finicky eater in your family.

Can I substitute other vegetables for the eggplant?

Of course. Mushrooms would seem an obvious substitution, but please feel free to use whatever vegetables you have on hand. And let me know what you’ve created!

salted eggplants draining in a colander.

 

Related recipes

Check out other Ugly Duckling Bakery vegetarian pastas like this pink sauce pasta or cavatappi alfredo with peas. Or sub beans for pasta with this cheesy white bean tomato bake.

Want more one-pot and one-pan dinners? Try:

Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-heart 💜💜💜💜💜 rating in the recipe card below. Let me know how much you loved it, or any problems you had, in the comments section further down.

Recipe

One Pan Vegetarian Eggplant Lasagna

5 from 1 vote
Category: Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 617kcal
This vegetarian eggplant lasagna is for those nights when you have neither the time nor the energy to spend hours in the kitchen, chopping and stirring. The recipe takes all of the components of a vegetarian lasagna – vegetables, tomato sauce, lasagne noodles, and cheese – and quickly builds one layer upon the other. All in one skillet. All on the stovetop.
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 medium Japanese eggplants or one small globe eggplant, roughly chopped into half inch pieces (no need to peel)
  • salt for sweating and to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¼ cup yellow or white onion, chopped fine
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 10-12 Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
  • 28 ounce can chopped tomatoes
  • ¼ cup homemade or store bought tomato sauce
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 12 no-boil lasagne noodles, broken up roughly
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ½ pound fresh mozzarella, chopped
  • 1 ounce Parmesan, grated, plus more for topping
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

  • About 30 to 60 minutes before starting to cook, salt the chopped eggplant in a sieve, toss until covered, and let sit in the sink.
    2 medium Japanese eggplants or one small globe eggplant, roughly chopped into half inch pieces (no need to peel), salt for sweating and to taste
  • When ready to cook, rinse off the salt and pat some of the water off with a paper towel or kitchen towel. You can even get rid of a bit more of the water out by squeezing the eggplant gently (but there's no need to squeeze like you are making latkes).
  • Using a large (12 inch) skillet that has a lid, heat the olive oil over medium-low heat, and then cook the onion for about 5 minutes until starting to soften.
    1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ cup yellow or white onion, chopped fine
  • Add the eggplant and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is starting to brown (about 5 minutes)
  • Add the garlic and olives and cook, stirring, for one minute.
    2 cloves garlic, 10-12 Kalamata olives, pitted and coarsely chopped
  • Add the canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, and red pepper flakes and stir to combine.
    28 ounce can chopped tomatoes, ¼ cup homemade or store bought tomato sauce, 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • Add the broken lasagne noodles as a top layer (do not stir them in), cover the pan, and let simmer with occasional bubbles for about 10 minutes.
    12 no-boil lasagne noodles, broken up roughly
  • At about the 10 minute mark, stir in the noodles and continue to let the mixture cook, covered and at a simmer, for about another 10 minutes until the noodles are soft. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
  • Add in salt and pepper to taste (I start with ½ teaspoon of salt and ¼ teaspooon of pepper).
    salt and pepper to taste
  • Remove from heat and stir in the chopped mozzarella and the Parmesan, reserving a tablespoon or two of the Parmesan for serving.
    ½ pound fresh mozzarella, chopped, 1 ounce Parmesan, grated, plus more for topping
  • Add the ricotta in large (about 2 tablespoon) dollops around the pan, but don't stir in. Cover the pan and let it sit for 5 minutes.
    1 cup ricotta cheese
  • Sprinkle with basil and Parmesan and admire your handiwork before serving.
    ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped

Notes

Variations: This recipe is extremely adaptable for vegetable additions or substitutions like zucchini or mushrooms.

Nutrition

Calories: 617kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 106mg | Sodium: 1047mg | Potassium: 955mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1169IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 563mg | Iron: 3mg
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You’re an adventurous home cook looking for inspiration in your weeknight meals and weekend baking. Get that inspiration here:

the one pan vegetarian eggplant lasagna on a plate with asparagus spears.

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