Low Carb Keto Lasagna

Name: Low Carb Keto Lasagna
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage; 12 oz of low-carb marinara sauce or low sugar tomato sauce; ¾ lb sliced chicken or turkey (from the deli counter); 10 tablespoons whole milk ricotta cheese; 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published July 20, 2019 • Updated October 18, 2023

A low-carb lasagna so good, you have to ask, "why isn't all lasagna like this?"

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Reader Rating

4.9 Stars (76 Reviews) 73 Comments

Casserole Easy Kid Friendly

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For an easy keto dinner recipe the whole family will enjoy, try this keto lasagna. There is no need to lay down layers of sliced zucchini noodles or shredded cabbage, this low-carb lasagna recipe uses sliced deli chicken meat for the “noodle” part.

keto lasagna layers on a plate with a fork

lifting a keto lasagna slice out of a pan

keto lasagna with layers of cheese meat and red sauce and a fork through it

keto lasagna with parmesan cheese and wine

30 Mins

Nutrition Facts

Servings

389

Calories

26g

Fat

34g

Protein

Net Carb

4.7g

Total Carbs

Disclaimer: The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

Using deli chicken meat as the replacement for noodles in lasagna produces a similar appearance and palatability to lasagna noodles. In fact, your family probably won’t be able to tell that this is a noodle-less lasagna recipe because it’s that delicious! You definitely won’t be missing any noodles in this flavorful Italian keto pasta recipe.

This is a go-to keto dinner recipe for our family. It’s easy to make (only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and cook) and the whole family loves it. It’s one of the most popular recipes on my website and YouTube channel. This meat sauce is a full red sauce coated ground beef and or Italian sausage and layers of creamy cheeses.

With this keto lasagna bake, we aren’t messing with zucchini slices that take forever to cut and make your zucchini lasagna watery.

Serve with a side salad or some keto breadsticks (err… parmesan bread puffs) and you have yourself a full Italian feast.

If you only have a few minutes to prepare dinner and don’t want to dirty up a bunch of dishes, try my keto skillet lasagna. This lasagna is a one pot recipe with all the delicious Italian flavors but not all the fuss.

KETOFOCUS FANS THINK IT’S THE BEST!!

“I made this last night and everyone loved it! My kids didn’t even realize there were no noodles. My oldest asked me why I was making lasagna, she thought I was having a cheat day!”

➥ from YouTube subscriber @mpiry

“Ok, I made this lasagna on Friday and OMG. This is hands down the absolute BEST keto lasagna recipe I have EVER tried, and I’ve tried several. Can’t thank you enough for this recipe. You cannot even tell there aren’t noodles in this dish. WOW!”

➥ from YouTube subscriber @rrt401

“I made this for my family and it was outstanding. Like you suggested I enhanced things with fresh garlic, onion, mushrooms, and spices. Worked great! I like using the chicken because it fills the role of the noodles so well. Let’s face it, the noodles themselves don’t add much flavor, only texture, and the chicken does the same. It allows all those other flavors to capture explode on your taste buds! Thanks for sharing the recipe.”

➥ from YouTube subscriber @steverock7103

Table of Contents [ click to toggle ]

Recipe Details
Similar recipes others love
What is a good substitute for lasagna noodles?
Is keto lasagna a freezer friendly meal?
What are some recommended low-carb marinara sauces?
Keto lasagna variations to try
How to make keto lasagna
FAQs
Nutrition information: facts & macronutrients

Keto Lasagna Recipe Video

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Keto Lasagna Ingredients

1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
12 oz of low-carb marinara sauce or low sugar tomato sauce
¾ lb sliced chicken or turkey (from the deli counter)
10 tablespoons whole milk ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Low Carb Keto Lasagna Directions

STEP

1
Brown the beef

Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt & pepper. Add additional seasoning like basil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, anise, or oregano if desired.
Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

salt

pepper
Quick Tip
For even more flavor, add diced onions, mushroom, bell peppers if desired.
STEP

2
Meat sauce

Once the meat is cooked until no longer pink, add in the marinara sauce. Stir to combine and let simmer on low for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Ingredients

12 oz marinara sauce
Quick Tip
Sometimes, I'll add a splash of heavy cream and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese to add flavor and balance.
STEP

3
Layer the ingredients

In a casserole dish, spread a small amount of ground beef mixture on the bottom. Add a layer of chicken slices. Followed by another layer of ground beef. Top with 5 dollops of ricotta cheese and ¼ of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers 2-3 times. End the layers with ground beef mixture and then remaining mozzarella cheese.
Ingredients

3/4 lb sliced chicken or turkey

10 oz ricotta cheese

3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Quick Tip
YouTube subscriber Joann suggests to mix an egg and some parmesan cheese into the ricotta. It's tastier, but helps the ricotta spread evenly.
STEP

4

Bake your lasagna

Bake in the oven at 400F for 15 minutes or until cheese is bubbly on top.

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frozen keto lasagna in a glass baking dish

What is a good substitute for lasagna noodles?

When it comes to keto lasagna, there a many different foods you can use to substitute for real lasagna noodles.

Some people use zucchini noodles (slices) or cabbage. I’ve even seen people use fathead dough rolled out super thin, baked and then used as a keto lasagna noodle.

Newer to the keto market are Palmini Lasagna Noodles. These noodles are made out of hearts of palm. You can use one can to make your keto lasagna. Each can has 6 grams of net carbs.

For a zero carb keto noodle, try using egg wraps. You can make your own or buy them from EggLife Wraps. Once baked, they have the texture of a noodle and don’t taste eggy.

In this recipe, I use thinly sliced deli meat as a noodle. You can use chicken or turkey – just make sure it’s not sweetened with honey. Try to find an all-natural deli meat too. I got the idea for these protein noodles from my favorite keto chef Maria Emmerich. You can find her recipe for Protein Noodle Lasagna here.

Is keto lasagna a freezer friendly meal?

Yes! This keto lasagna recipe is a make-ahead, freezer-friendly keto meal. I usually double the recipe and freeze one.

Prepare the lasagna ahead of time – cooking the ground beef and forming the layers of your lasagna. Layer down the sauce, keto lasagna noodles, red sauce beef mixture and cheese in a large baking dish. Wrap with plastic wrap and foil. Store low-carb lasagna in the freezer for 3 to 6 months.

Should you freeze a whole lasagna before or after you cook it?

If you choose to freeze your keto lasagna after assembly, let the casserole cool to room temperature, then wrap the dish in plastic wrap. Cover tightly with foil and/or seal with a lid if using a freezer-friendly dish.

What are some recommended low-carb marinara sauces?

Rao’s Marinara Sauce

Using a combination of Italian tomatoes, olive oil, onions, and a proprietary blend of Italian seasoning, this marinara sauce is a favorite. It is a red sauce recipe that has been passed down for generations. Each ½ cup serving has 3 g net carbs. I have found this pasta sauce at most grocery stores – even Costco.

Yo Mama's Pasta Sauce

This tomato based sauce packs a lot of flavor while keeping the carbs low. 1/4 cup of sauce has about 2 g net carbs.

Thrive Market Organic Marinara

This marinara pasta sauce is sourced from low-acidic San Marzano tomatoes which are grown in volcanic Italian soil. Each ½ cup serving has 5 g net carbs.

Fody Marinara Sauce

This pasta sauce is great if you are following a low FODMAP diet. It contains no gluten, garlic or onion so it won’t upset a sensitive stomach. Plus there are 3 g net carbs per ½ cup of marinara sauce.

Mezzetta Marinara

Sourced from Italian and California plum tomatoes. This sauce can be found at most Walmarts. This marinara sauce has 4 g net carbs per ½ cup serving.

Make Your Own Pasta Sauce

If you are a DIYer or on a budget, you may consider making your own keto marinara sauce. You can make up a bunch of sauce on meal prep day and freeze it for later use. I store mine in freezer safe tubs, bags or mason jars. If you freeze the sauce in mason jars, make sure you leave space in the top of the jar to allow for expansion or else your jar will crack in the freezer.

homemade keto marinara sauce in a jar for low-carb lasagna

Keto lasagna variations to try

Cream Cheese

For a creamer variation of keto lasagna, replace the ricotta cheese with cream cheese.

Puree Mushrooms & Bell Pepper

Got picky eaters or small kids that hate to eat veggies? Sneak in those veggies by pureeing some mushrooms or sauteed bell pepper into a blender, then add it to the sauce.

Add More Spices

Try adding seasonings like anise, red pepper flakes, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, parsley, or garlic powder to kick of the flavor of your keto lasagna. Even anchovy paste can enhance the flavor of your red sauce.

How to make keto lasagna

Make beefy marinara sauce – Brown ground beef with seasonings and mix with your favorite keto pasta sauce. This is where you could add more flavor by mixing in mushrooms, onions, zucchini, olives.
Layer it up – Pour down some red sauce first into your pan. Followed by keto noodles, more red sauce and ricotta cheese. Repeat the layers.
Bake – Bake the lasagna in the oven until cheese is melted.

Low Carb Keto Lasagna: FAQS

Can I substitute the ground beef?

Yes, you don't have to make a meat based lasagna. For a vegetarian option, omit the beef. Or you can substitute the ground beef with ground chicken, turkey, sausage or mixtures of all four.

Is there a substitute for the ricotta cheese?

Instead of ricotta cheese, try using cottage cheese or cream cheese to make up the cheese mixture similar to traditional lasagna.

Can I bake this in an air fryer?

Yes, lasagna can be baked in the air fryer at 380-400 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Nutritional information & Macros

Amount Per Serving
Calories	389
Fat	26g
Protein	34g
Total Carbs	4.7g
Net Carbs	4g

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About Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis and a Pharm.D., she has over 11 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism. She is the author of the Protein Packed cookbook, published by Victory Belt Publishing.

Learn more about Annie →

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