Tastier Than Beef: Use This Smoked Meat In Lasagna For Double The Deliciousness

Lasagna is a crowd favorite because it's hearty, comforting, and requires minimal effort to prepare. While classic lasagna bolognese recipes call for ricotta cheese, tomato sauce, and ground beef, others leave room for experimentation. For example, instead of beef, swap in smoked turkey for an entirely new flavor.

When turkey is smoked, it's often given a wet or dry salt brine to help it soak up any juices, spices, and woodsmoke it's made with. The result is juicy, tender meat that can absorb and blend beautifully with lasagna's sauce and cheese, plus a surprisingly earthy flavor that gives the Italian dish an unexpected twist.

To add smoked turkey to lasagna, smoke it yourself or buy it precooked. Opt for dark meat from legs and wings over white; it's typically softer and offers a richer, fattier taste. Pull and shred meat directly off the bone or boil it in water first until it softens. Then place it between the lasagna layers as usual.

Smoked turkey lasagna sounds delicious on its own. But if you want to kick things up a notch, we have a few suggestions for upgrading the dish. First, pile on more cheese: Pairing ricotta with mozzarella, sharp parmesan, or creamy gruyere will liven up the dish's taste and texture. Then, layer cooked veggies like spinach or sauteed mushrooms between the noodles for a delightful umami flavor. No matter the filling of choice, it'll taste great with smoked turkey.

And if you're tired of plain tomato or meat sauce? Swap classic lasagna for a creamy white one. Simply make the dish with a béchamel sauce, which you can purchase as an instant mix at the grocery store or whip up yourself with flour, butter, milk, pepper, and nutmeg. For a thicker and cheesier lasagna sauce, use Alfredo, which is made with butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese.