This Mexican Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna is layered with a cheesy sauce and re-fried beans giving it the Mexican flavors. A Family friendly recipe that is both Gluten Free & Vegetarian.
Hey, and Happy last Monday of the month to you!! Can you believe that February is almost over?
Anyway, I'm not sure about you guys but this year is already starting to fly by for me.
And since I've got sooo many tasty recipes I want to share this year... I'm never sure where to begin.
But today I'm sharing a personal favorite of mine. Believe it or not this recipe was based off ingredients I had on hand and needed to use.
Somehow these end up being some of my best creations. So with lots of zucchini on hand and a can of re-fried beans this Mexican Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna was born.
This is pure Comfort food at it's Best! And since I was able to combine two of my all time favorites...Italian and Mexican..into one dish I was one Happy 🙂 camper for sure!
Hence, if you crave Mexican and Italian all at the same time this one's for you. It's also Really easy to throw together so it's perfect for any night of the week.
Do you ever have that struggle in your head...Uhmm, what do I want for dinner tonight?
Do I want Italian, Mexican or for someone else to just decide. Haha...sometimes when you're a food blogger you do want someone else to decide. And truly that can be the most challenging part of dinner time..Deciding?
So the next time you have the struggle over should it be Italian OR Mexican I have the answer for you here.
This Recipe for Mexican Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna will cover it since!
- Both Italian and Mexican flavors combined
- Easy, tasty to prepare for any night of the week
- Family friendly, leftover friendly, freezer friendly
- Great Way to get in a tasty serving of veggies and protein
- It solves the dilemma of What's for Dinner Tonight?
- Gluten Free & Vegetarian
📖 Recipe
Mexican Vegetarian Zucchini Lasagna
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini
- 1 16 ounce can re-fried beans
- 1 can fire roasted tomatoes 14.5 ounce
- 2 ½ tsp. chili powder divided
- ½ tsp. cumin
- 1 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp. each garlic & onion powder
- 2 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
- 12 ounces shredded cheese I used a mix of pepper jack, monterey jack, and cheddar
- ½ red bell pepper chopped
- ¼ red onion chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven 350 degrees.
- Line large baking sheet with parchment paper*
- Using ⅛ setting on mandolin slicer cut zucchini into long strips resembling lasagna noodles
- Lay on baking sheet and sprinkle with salt.
- Bake 10-15 minutes allowing to release some moisture.
- Meanwhile mix beans, tomatoes, 1 tsp. chili powder, ½ teaspoon cumin in small mixing bowl and set aside.
- In separate mixing bowl add ricotta cheese, egg, 1 ½ tsp. chili powder, garlic, onion powder, and chopped cilantro.
- Then in a 13x9 casserole pan you start the layering.
- Start with a thin layer of bean mixture on bottom.
- Next layer zucchini slices, then ricotta mix, cheese mix.
- Repeat one more time ending with bean, then cheese mix.
- Cover and bake in preheated oven 40 minutes.
- Remove from oven and top with bell pepper and red onion.
- Place back in oven and bake additional 10 minutes uncovered.
- Can top with additional cilantro.
- Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes prior to serving.
Notes
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
This sounds so good! I love that it still has the delicious cheese of lasagna, but veggies instead of carbs. Love the refried beans - I definitely don't eat them enough!
Kathryn @ FoodieGirlChicago
I'm a big fan of Mexican food so I love the Mexican inspired flavors of this dish. Sounds like a great weeknight dinner!
Laura | Wandercooks
Oh god yes we have that trouble all the time! We have to make a meal plan for the week ahead or we'll find ourselves struggling when it comes to dinner time... But, desperate times do lead to some amazing discoveries don't they, when you can turn random ingredients into pure gold! This lasagne sounds absolutely delish!
Stef
Thanks Laura and Yes they do and this just happened to be one of them 🙂
Luci {Luci's Morsels}
This looks so delicious and simple to make! I love the inclusion of the zucchini.
Stef
Thanks Luci!
Celebrating Sweets
I love Mexican flavors! This sounds like a great way to switch up our dinner rotation!
foodtasticmom2013
Such a great idea to use zucchini. I'm always up for Mexican. Going to try this!
Stef
Thanks 🙂
Garlic + Zest
This looks like a big casserole of home cooking! I love Mexican flavors (haven't had refried beans in a long time) and I love the mesh of these flavors with an Italian staple -- lasagna! Nicely done.
Stef
Thanks Lisa! I'm all about re-fried beans and they worked so good in this 🙂
Ashley - Forking Up
This is a great way to make a lasagna healthy! And not only that, the flavors look so incredible. I love it, I'll have to try it sometime!
Stef
Thanks Ashley and hope you get a chance to try it 🙂
Priya Srinivasan
My kiddo has started a new liking to lasagna, this looks scrumpious with veggies and beans, will try this sometime!
The Recipe Nomad
That sounds so good! I love that you used zucchini! How healthy is that!
Molly Kumar
What a delicious recipe and I'm so loving the use of zucchini instead of pasta. The flavors sound amazing and I so wanna dig in right now 🙂
Stef
Thanks Molly 🙂
chei
I love LASAGNA! This is making me hungry.
Adriana Martin
Love casseroles with veggies and Mexican flavors. This is perfect dish for meatless Monday or lent too.
Jennifer A Stewart
I'm with you! I can't believe it is March already! I have been doing a kitchen renovation right now and when you can't do something it's like all you want to do so i have been writing down all my ideas for recipes and now I want to do them all today!! I am a huge lasagna fan and a mexican food fan. This is a great combination of the two!!
Stef
Thanks Jennifer and Good luck with the renovation!
Kylee Cooks
I love Mexican flavors, especially when fused with Italian - I love a good veggie lasagna, too! This looks fab!
Stef
Thanks Kylee!
Stef
Thanks Cheyanne and I have to admit I have an obession with re-fried beans also! And I even surprised myself at how great they were in this!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary
I have no clue why time flies by so fast... or HOW we are almost in March! It's crazy if you ask me! Anyways, I loooooooove anything Mexican, so this cheesy, lasagna creation is screaming my name! I absolutely love that this is vegetarian and you used zucchini! Plus I have a weird obsession with re-fried beans, so you know I'm over here drooling! Love it! Cheers, girlfriend!
Christine - Jar Of Lemons
Oh my goodness, this sounds amazing! Love that this recipe is vegetarian and so colorful!
Marisa @ All Our Way
What a great idea. I love Italian and I love the spice of Mexican! What a way to combine two great cuisines. I am a huge fan of zucchini so it would be a way to enjoy it. Great recipe.
Stef
Thanks Marisa!
Lord Byron's Kitchen
This sounds very delicious! I very often will substitute zucchini for lasagna noodles, but I very rarely change up the flavours of my traditional lasagna. I'd be delighted to try this Mexican-inspired version though.
Stef
Thanks Bryon and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised about how good they go together 🙂
Tina
I have the struggle .. what do I want for dinner?? .. every single night! Way to be creative with this mexican-italian fusion.
Stef
Thanks Tina!
VeenaAzmanov
I love everything Mexican. Always reminds me of my awesome trip to Mexico I really enjoyed the food. This sounds so delish. I think zucchini is a fun vegetable and so versatile.
Dene' V. Alexander
This looks full of cheesy goodness! I am always looks for new ingredients to make lasagna! I will be adding this to my list!!
Stef
Thanks Dene and hope you Enjoy 🙂
Pam Wattenbarger
I love Mexican and Mexican inspired dishes. This sounds like it would be a fun change from our usual taco night.