The Best Vegan Lasagne

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This is the Best Vegan Lasagne recipe and it is incredibly simple to make and is a total crowd-pleaser! From the fresh tomato sauce to the creamy vegan white sauce, I am going to put my neck on the line and say this is the best plant-based or veggie lasagna recipe you will make!

lasagne slice being lifted from baking dish full of lasagne.

Recipe Difficulty – Easy!

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Why this recipe works
Ingredients to make The Best Vegan Lasagne
Substitutions
Variations
How to make The Best Vegan Lasagne
Leftovers
Recipe FAQs
Recipe
Reviews

Why this recipe works

The best vegan lasagne! Big statement, I know, but I have tested it on many big meat-eating friends who love it. Some have even said it’s better than a meat sauce lasagne! It’s one of those recipes that looks super hard (and impressive), but is actually quite easy! Vegan lasagna is the perfect dinner party meal for sharing with family or friends. Or you can keep it to yourself for a quiet night in! Just like classic lasagna, vegetarian lasagna is the perfect comfort food!

However, can you really turn a lasagne recipe vegan? You bet! You may think you’re missing out with a dairy free lasagne, but this is honestly the best vegan lasagna recipe out there! The black beans and lentils give it a real meaty texture and the homemade vegan bechamel sauce also gives it that cream cheesy flavour – just what you want from a lasagne! It tastes just like the “real” thing and is absolutely packed full of flavour!

If you’re looking for more delicious meat-free pasta recipes then check out my Vegan Meatballs or Lentil Bolognese.

Ingredients to make The Best Vegan Lasagne

ingredients to make vegan lasagne laid out on white surface.

Tomato Sauce Ingredients

Olive Oil – is used to fry up the vegetables and prevents them from sticking to the pan.
Garlic Cloves – adds depth of flavour and body to the tomato sauce.
Red Onion – I’ve used a red onion in this recipe as they are slightly sweeter, however a white onion would also be fine to use.
Dried Oregano – is a classic Italian seasoning. It adds a bold and slightly spicy flavour.
Dried Basil – is another excellent seasoning. Basil is a little sweet and somewhat spicy.
Mushrooms – are a healthy and flavourful addition to this yummy tomato sauce. I love adding lots of vegetables into this veggie lasagne recipe!
Tomatoes – Fresh chopped tomatoes add a fabulous flavour to this delicious sauce.
Tinned Black Beans – add a ‘meaty’ texture and also add protein to the lasagne.
Green Lentils – Similarly to the black beans, they add great texture, flavour, and protein.
Passata – this provides the perfect balance of acidity, liquid and flavour to the veggie lasagna.

Vegan Bechamel Ingredients

Cashews – are the hero ingredient in so many vegan recipes! They help give a creamy and cheesy texture to this creamy sauce. If you have any spare then use them to make my Vegan Dauphinoise Potatoes.
Nutritional Yeast – Nutritional yeast flakes add protein and flavour and also work to thicken this delicious sauce. This acts as a dairy free substitute to cheese.
Dried Basil – adds the perfect amount of seasoning to this yummy sauce.
Garlic Clove – crush the garlic up for a great addition to the flavours.
Unsweetened Plant Milk – I use almond milk, but you could use oat milk, soy milk, or any other plant-based milk.
Olive Oil – adds a great flavour and texture.

Extra Ingredients

Gluten Free Lasagne Sheets – This is the main alteration from a classic vegan lasagna recipe that turns it into gluten free lasagna. If you don’t need gluten free lasagne, you are welcome to use regular noodles instead.
Vegan Cheese – cheese tastes vary, so you can take your pick! You could even do a combination! Some great choices are vegan parmesan, vegan mozzarella, and vegan ricotta.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions

Olive Oil – You can use any oil for this – vegetable oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, etc.
Red Onion – While red onion has a sweeter and stronger flavour, you could also use a white or yellow onion.
Garlic – If you don’t have fresh garlic, you could garlic powder.
Beans and pulses – you could substitute the lentils and black beans for a bean of your choice. Occasionally, I like to use chickpeas or cannelloni beans instead.
Nutritional Yeast – could be substituted for cheese.

Variations

Spicy – For spicy veggie lasagne, add some crushed red pepper flakes to the red sauce. If you aren’t vegan or vegetarian you could also add spicy chorizo into the recipe for additional heat.
Deluxe – This is already the best vegan lasagne.But, if you are cooking for dinner guests or simply want to impress, you could add some fresh basil, fresh parsley, or vegan parmesan cheese on top for a leveled-up look. Served wish a fresh green crisp salad or my Air Fryer Chips and voila, you’re onto a winner! For dessert, why not try my super impressive but incredible easy Vegan Chocolate Tart!
Kid friendly – This is one that is great for the whole family from the get-go! Serve it along with some vegan garlic bread or my Gluten Free Focaccia for extra points with your kids! Even picky eaters love this one!

How to make The Best Vegan Lasagne

chopped vegetables on wooden chopping board with sharp knife.

Step 1: Firstly, preheat your oven to 200C/390F.

Then, chop the mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and garlic.

ingredients to make the sauce in a large pot on white surface.

Step 2: Heat a large pot with olive oil. Add the garlic, onion, oregano, basil, tomatoes, mushrooms, black beans, and lentils. Allow it to fry for a few minutes.

ingredients to make the sauce in large pot on white surface.

Step 3: Add the passata and a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix it in and bring it to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes.

ingredients to make béchamel sauce in blender on white surface.

Step 4: Meanwhile, whilst the tomato sauce simmers, combine the white sauce ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

lasagne sheets being laid in large baking tray on white surface.

Step 5: Layer the lasagne however you choose. I do tomato sauce, pasta sheets, tomato sauce, white sauce, pasta sheet, and so on.

béchamel sauce being poured into lasagne.

Step 6: Make sure to have sauce on top of the lasagne sheets. I like the top layer to be Vegan Bechamel Sauce followed by the cheese.

overhead shot of lasagne with grated cheese on top. Baking tray is on white surface.

Step 7: Grate the vegan cheese over the top and cook it for 30 minutes.

Hint: If you line the dish with parchment paper, it makes clean-up a breeze!

Leftovers

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure not to keep the lasagne at room temperature. It will keep for 3-5 days. You can also freeze this recipe. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months and to defrost, allow it to fully thaw in the fridge before gentle reheating until piping hot.

Recipe FAQs

Do you have to boil lasagne sheets?

You do not need to boil noodles when making lasagne. Lasagna sheets cook up perfectly while they are in the oven!

Can you make vegetarian lasagne ahead of time?

Yes! you can make vegetable lasagne a day early and then just throw it in the oven the next day.

What can you use in place of animal products in lasagne?

A vegetable lasagne recipe uses black beans and lentils to give the same taste and texture of the meaty sauce. You can buy or make a vegan cheese, such as cashew ricotta, to replace the cheese. Plant-based milk will replace the regular milk.

Can vegetable lasagne be frozen?

Just like regular lasagna, a vegetarian lasagna recipe can be frozen! You can choose to freeze it before or after cooking it. If you freeze leftovers, it is a good idea to separate them into single servings to more easily grab a piece to enjoy!

missing piece of lasagne in large baking tray. White background.

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