Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Cottage Cheese Lasagna is a high protein recipe made with ground beef, turkey sausage, diced tomatoes, marinara, and more! Easy to make, everyone will love the taste of this dish that features a 3 cheese layer in every bite.

Delicious and easy lasagna with cottage cheese

Lasagna is always a crowd pleaser. I can’t think of a single person who doesn’t enjoy it! This recipe for the creamiest, most delicious lasagna is one of my all time favorites. Why? It’s made with cottage cheese!

You read that right. This cottage cheese lasagna recipe packs a flavor punch. It’s made with all of the normal lasagna ingredients like diced tomatoes, marinara, noodles, onion, salt, and pepper. But, it also includes ground beef, turkey sausage, and of course, cottage cheese! That means it’s loaded with protein, making it extra satisfying and just as delicious as the best lasagna you’ve ever had.

Ingredients in cottage cheese lasagna

This homemade lasagna has two sets of ingredients: those for the lasagna base and marinara sauce, and those for the cheese mixture. Below is everything you’ll need!

Lasagna & marinara sauce

• Noodles: First up for this dish is 9 lasagna noodles.
• Olive oil: 2 tbsp of olive oil will be used to cook the onions until softened.
• Onion: And as for the onion, use 1 yellow, diced.
• Ground beef: Next, add protein to the dish with 1 lb of ground beef. Feel free to use ground turkey if preferred.
• Turkey sausage: Follow the turkey or beef with a 1 lb tube of ground turkey sausage. You can also use regular or lean ground beef or Italian sausage (ground up).
• Garlic: Add flavor with 5 cloves of garlic.
• Diced tomatoes: Create the tomato portion of the recipe by using 1 can of drained diced tomatoes.
• Marinara sauce: Add more tomato flavor and thicken up the dish with with 1 24oz jar of marinara sauce.
• Salt & pepper: Finally, finish off this part of the recipe with 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of pepper.

Cheese mixture

• Cottage cheese: The cheese mixture begins with 16oz of full fat small curd cottage cheese. Low fat cottage cheese will work, but it won’t yield quite the same texture or flavor.
• Mozzarella: Then, use 5 cups of mozzarella, divided into 3 cups and 2 cups. We’ll use this partly in the cottage cheese mixture and partly as a final top layer for the dish.
• Egg: Next, add 1 egg.
• Grated parmesan: Add even more cheese by including 3/4 cup of grated parmesan.
• Salt & pepper: Last but not least, finish off with 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper.

Tools used to make this easy lasagna recipe with cottage cheese

Making lasagna doesn’t require as many kitchen tools as you may think! In fact, all you need is a 9×13 baking dish, a large pot, a baking sheet, a dutch oven (or the large pot), a stirring utensil, and a medium bowl.

To measure out ingredients, you will need 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 3/4 cup, and 1 cup sized measuring cups.

How to make this lasagna recipe with cottage cheese

Preparing this lasagna requires around 15-20 minutes of prep time and 40-45 minutes of cook time. When all is said and done, it yields 12 delicious and filling servings!

Preparing the lasagna

First, preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 casserole dish.

Next, prepare the lasagna noodles according to the box. Use boiling water with oil and salt to prevent sticking, and cook for two minutes less than the recommended time.

Once the noodles are cooked and drained, lay them flat on a baking sheet to dry out.

Heat the olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions and keep them simmering for 3-4 minutes or until softened.

Add the beef and sausage and cook until they’re no longer pink, breaking up into small pieces. Once the meat is almost all the way cooked, add the garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Drain the excess grease.

Turn the heat to medium-low and add the diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, salt, and pepper.

Creating the cheese layers

Next, in a medium sized bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, 3 cups of mozzarella cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. The mixture will be thick.

Assembling the dish

Start assembling the lasagna by adding a little bit of the meat sauce to the bottom of the dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles lengthwise. Evenly crumble over 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture. Then, add 1/3 of the meat mixture evenly on top. Add another layer of 3 noodles and repeat the cottage cheese and meat mixture layers. Add another layer of noodles and top with the remaining meat sauce. Finish the dish by topping with the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, uncovered. Place on top of the baking sheet if it begins to bubble over.

Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Leftover lasagna should be covered with aluminum foil or placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator. For best results, enjoy within 3-4 days.

Cooked lasagna doesn’t freeze well, but it is possible to store it in the freezer prior to baking. If you want to enjoy this dish as a make ahead meal, simply prepare and store before baking! Enjoy within 1 month.

Is ricotta or cottage cheese better in lasagna?

To me, cottage cheese is so much better than ricotta cheese in lasagna! Not only does it taste delicious, it’s also very high in protein and creates a more filling and satisfying dish!

What is the correct order to layer lasagna?

This recipe has 9 total layers, assembled in this order:

1. 1/3 of meat sauce > 3 noodles > 1/2 of cottage cheese mixture
2. 1/3 of meat sauce > 3 noodles > 1/2 of cottage cheese mixture
3. 3 noodles > remaining meat sauce > 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

How much cottage cheese to replace ricotta?

This lasagna made without ricotta uses 16oz (2 cups) of full fat small curd cottage cheese.

Does cottage cheese melt?

Not completely! When heated, it melts slightly, but not all the way through. The texture and heating results are perfect for lasagna!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

In the mood for some more pasta? From healthy hamburger helper to penne alla vodka, there are plenty of pasta recipes to try.

• Healthy Hamburger Helper
• Broccoli Sausage Pasta Bake
• Best Pasta Fagioli Recipe
• Healthy Penne Alla Vodka with Chicken

Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

Erin Antoniak

Cottage Cheese Lasagna

5 from 26 votes

Cottage Cheese Lasagna is a high protein recipe made with ground beef, turkey sausage, diced tomatoes, marinara, and more! Easy to make, everyone will love the taste of this dish that features a 3 cheese layer in every bite.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Course: dinner, Main Course, meal-prep, pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Calories: 487

Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 yellow onion diced
• 1 lb ground beef or turkey
• 1 lb turkey sausage or regular – in tube
• 5 cloves garlic
• 1 can diced tomatoes drained
• 24 oz jar marinara sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Cheese mixture:

• 16 oz full fat small curd cottage cheese
• 5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 375F and grease 9×13 casserole dish.
2. Prepare lasagna noodles according to box in boiling water with oil + salt to prevent sticking, cooking two minutes less than recommended time.
3. Once noodles are cooked and drained, lay flat on a baking sheet to dry out.
4. Heat olive oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes or until softened.
5. Add in beef and sausage and cook until no longer pink, breaking up into small pieces. Once almost all the way cooked, add garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Drain excess grease.
6. Turn heat to medium-low and add in diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, salt, and pepper.
7. In a medium sized bowl, mix together cottage cheese, 3 cups of mozzarella cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Mixture will be thick.
8. Start assembling the lasagna by adding a little meat sauce to the bottom of the dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles lengthwise. Crumble over 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture evenly. Then add 1/3 of the meat mixture evenly overtop. Add another layer of 3 noodles and repeat cottage cheese and meat mixture. Add another layer of noodles and top with remaining meat sauce. Top with remaining 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese.
9. Bake for 40-45 minutes, uncovered. Place on top of baking sheet if begins to bubble over.
10. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 34gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 1386mgPotassium: 593mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 757IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 367mgIron: 3mg

Notes

• Use full fat small curd cottage cheese — not low fat. Low fat versions won’t give you the same creamy texture or rich flavor. The full fat version is what makes this lasagna indulgently delicious while still being protein-packed!
• Cook your noodles 2 minutes less than the package directs. They’ll finish cooking in the oven, so pulling them early ensures they don’t turn mushy. Lay them flat on a baking sheet to dry before assembling.
• Let the lasagna cool for a full 20 minutes before cutting. It needs that time to set up so you get clean, beautiful slices instead of a falling-apart mess. It’s worth the wait — and honestly tastes even better the next day!

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