Lasagna with Turkey Sausage Bolognese

A lighter twist on classic lasagna featuring spicy Italian turkey sausage in a rich tomato sauce layered with three cheeses and no-boil noodles. This hearty dish combines the flavors of fennel, fresh basil, and oregano for a delicious family meal.

8 servings

2 hr 25 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•2 tablespoons olive oil
•2 cups chopped onions
•½ cup diced carrot
•1 tablespoon fennel seeds
•1 pound spicy Italian turkey sausages
•3 cloves garlic
•½ cup dry white wine
•5 cups crushed tomatoes
•1 cup fresh basil
•2 tablespoons fresh oregano
•15 ounces whole-milk ricotta cheese
•3 cups whole-milk mozzarella cheese
•1¼ cups Parmesan cheese
•16 pieces no-boil lasagna noodles

Cooking Instructions

1.
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrot, and fennel seeds; sauté 5 minutes. Add sausage and garlic; sauté until sausage is cooked through, breaking into pieces, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute. Add tomatoes, 1/2 cup basil, and oregano. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
25 min
2.
Combine ricotta, mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan, and 1/2 cup basil in medium bowl; stir to blend. Season with pepper. DO AHEAD: Sauce and cheese mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.
10 min
3.
Place noodles in large bowl; cover with hot water. Soak until pliable, separating occasionally, about 30 minutes. Drain well.
30 min
4.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread 1 cup sauce over bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Cover with 4 noodles, arranging crosswise. Drop 1/4 of cheese mixture over by tablespoonfuls; spread out. Top with 1 cup sauce, then 4 noodles and 1/3 of remaining cheese mixture. Repeat 2 more times with 1 cup sauce, 4 noodles, and 1/2 of cheese mixture. Spread any remaining sauce over. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan.
15 min
5.
Bake lasagna uncovered until heated through and puffed, about 50 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes and serve.
65 min

Ingredients

•2 tablespoons olive oil

•2 cups chopped onions

•½ cup diced carrot

•1 tablespoon fennel seeds

•1 pound spicy Italian turkey sausages

•3 cloves garlic

•½ cup dry white wine

•5 cups crushed tomatoes

•1 cup fresh basil

•2 tablespoons fresh oregano

•15 ounces whole-milk ricotta cheese

•3 cups whole-milk mozzarella cheese

•1¼ cups Parmesan cheese

•16 pieces no-boil lasagna noodles

Cooking Instructions

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, carrot, and fennel seeds; sauté 5 minutes. Add sausage and garlic; sauté until sausage is cooked through, breaking into pieces, 8 to 10 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute. Add tomatoes, 1/2 cup basil, and oregano. Bring to boil. Reduce heat; simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

25 min

Combine ricotta, mozzarella, 1 cup Parmesan, and 1/2 cup basil in medium bowl; stir to blend. Season with pepper. DO AHEAD: Sauce and cheese mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill.

10 min

Place noodles in large bowl; cover with hot water. Soak until pliable, separating occasionally, about 30 minutes. Drain well.

30 min

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread 1 cup sauce over bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Cover with 4 noodles, arranging crosswise. Drop 1/4 of cheese mixture over by tablespoonfuls; spread out. Top with 1 cup sauce, then 4 noodles and 1/3 of remaining cheese mixture. Repeat 2 more times with 1 cup sauce, 4 noodles, and 1/2 of cheese mixture. Spread any remaining sauce over. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan.

15 min

Bake lasagna uncovered until heated through and puffed, about 50 minutes. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes and serve.

65 min