I’ve been hearing a lot about this trend of people choosing Thanksgiving lasagna over turkey, and it got me thinking that this is a great idea! This year, we’re going to give it a try the night before Thanksgiving. It seems like a great idea for when everyone trickles home on Wednesday night—warm, comforting, and easy to share. I wanted to share my basic ground turkey (it is Thanksgiving, after all) lasagna recipe. It’s simple and straightforward but leaves plenty of room for creativity if you want to make it your own.

Ground Turkey Lasagna

Ingredients:

For the Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound pasture-raised ground turkey
• 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Optional: A pinch of red pepper flakes for mild heat

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus 1 cup for topping)
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley (optional)

For Assembly:

• 12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil, depending on preference)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)

Instructions:

Prepare the Sauce:

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute.

Add the ground turkey to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, about 7-8 minutes.

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Prepare the Cheese Mixture:

In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and parsley. Mix well and set aside.

Cook the Lasagna Noodles:

If using regular lasagna noodles, cook them according to package instructions. Drain and lay flat on a clean towel to prevent sticking.

Assemble the Lasagna:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Spread a thin layer of the turkey sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
3. Place 3-4 noodles in a single layer over the sauce.
4. Spread ⅓ of the cheese mixture over the noodles, followed by ⅓ of the turkey sauce. Repeat the layers (noodles, cheese mixture, sauce) two more times, finishing with a final layer of noodles and turkey sauce.
5. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella evenly over the top.

Bake:

Cover the dish with foil (avoid letting it touch the cheese) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.

Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.