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Lasagna with cottage cheese is just as cheesy and satisfying but packs in more protein and you don’t even have to boil the noodles.
Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
While I typically use ricotta to make lasagna, cottage cheese has more protein, and since I almost always have a tub sitting in the fridge, it was only a matter of time before I used it to make a lasagna with cottage cheese.
It’s not unlike me to sneak it into dinner recipes; my kids love my cottage cheese mac and cheese, this cottage cheese Alfredo, and even this epic creamy sauce for chicken, their favorite: cottage cheese baked ziti.
Ingredients
You’ll make this recipe with regular or oven-ready lasagna noodles. For the cheese layer, you’ll need cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan (grated or shredded), eggs, and simple seasonings. The meat sauce is made with cooked ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken) and marinara sauce.
How to Make Cottage Cheese Lasagna
This delicious meal takes just 10 minutes of prepping and then the oven does the hard work for you. Here’s an overview of the process:
- Blend
Blending the cottage cheese keeps it from separating in the lasagna, yielding a creamy texture. - Prep the filling
While the meat cooks in the marinara sauce in a skillet, prepare the cheese mixture by whisking together the eggs, seasonings, and cheese. - Bake
Assemble the lasagna layers, cover with foil, and bake for 55 minutes at 350F. Ten minutes before finishing cooking, remove the foil to brown the top.
Layer Order for Lasagna
I know. The layers are what put the lasagna in the intimidating meals side, but it’s just as easy as following this order. First, pour some sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Then, add the lasagna noodles, cheese mixture, and meat sauce; repeat for the middle layer. Finally, add lasagna noodles and meat sauce, and sprinkle extra cheese on top. Bake and enjoy!
Cottage Cheese Lasagna (Easy Steps)
Watch how it’s made:
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat, you choose
- 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce, your favorite
- 32 ounces of cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan, divided
- 9 lasagna noodles, regular or oven ready
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) with the oven rack in the middle position.
- Add the cottage cheese to a blender and blend until smooth. It will be thick. This eliminates the cheese curds from separating in the lasagna.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Add the blended cottage cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese to the bowl. Mix thoroughly with a fork to combine. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meat, breaking it up with a spatula, until it's fully browned and cooked through, for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Add the marinara sauce to the cooked meat and simmer for a couple of minutes to heat it up.
Assemble:
- Spread a thin layer of the sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles and then distribute half of the cottage cheese mixture on top of the noodles, spreading it out from end to end. Top it with a little meat sauce, then add another layer of lasagna noodles on top.
- Repeat this by topping the noodles with the rest of the cheese mixture, some of the sauce (about half of what's left), and then a final top layer of noodles. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the noodles, then top with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
Bake:
- Cover the lasagna tightly with foil and bake in the preheated oven for a total of 55 minutes. In the final 10 minutes, remove the foil and finish cooking, uncovered, to brown the cheesy top.
- Remove from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Janet says
Fabulous recipe! Will be what I use from now on! Thank you❤️
Cherry says
Just tried the cottage cheese lasagna — it’s so creamy and comforting!
Bob says
This Cottage Cheese Lasagna offers a creamy, protein-rich twist on the classic. Layers of pasta, rich tomato sauce, and a cottage-cheese-mozzarella blend make it hearty and satisfying.
Catalina says
I made this today and was surprised how creamy it turned out. The cottage cheese blended right in and gave a light texture.
Jacqueline says
I also usually use ricotta in lasagna but this version with cottage cheese is so good, I might never go back to using ricotta!
Laura Fuentes says
Thank you for sharing how much you enjoyed this recipe!
Deb says
Just made this..Yum!! Will be making again!