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Cottage Cheese Protein Lasagna Bake - Comfort Food With a High-Protein Twist

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Lasagna noodles: 12 sheets (no-boil or regular)
  • Lean ground turkey or beef: 1 to 1.25 pounds
  • Marinara sauce: 4 cups (about 32 ounces), low-sugar if preferred
  • Cottage cheese: 2 cups (2% or 4% milkfat for creaminess)
  • Part-skim mozzarella cheese: 2 cups, shredded
  • Parmesan cheese: 1/2 cup, grated
  • Egg: 1 large (helps set the cottage cheese layer)
  • Baby spinach: 3 cups, roughly chopped (optional but recommended)
  • Onion: 1 small, diced
  • Garlic: 3 cloves, minced
  • Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
  • Italian seasoning: 2 teaspoons
  • Red pepper flakes: 1/4 teaspoon (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper: To taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley: A handful, chopped (for garnish)

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven: Set to 375°F (190°C). Lightly oil a 9x13-inch baking dish or coat it with nonstick spray.
  2. Cook the noodles (if not using no-boil): Boil in salted water until very al dente. Drain and lay flat on a sheet pan to prevent sticking.
  3. Brown the meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic for 30 seconds. Add ground turkey or beef, break it up, and cook until no longer pink. Season with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes.
  4. Add sauce: Pour in marinara and simmer 5–7 minutes to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
  5. Make the cottage cheese layer: In a bowl, stir cottage cheese, egg, half of the Parmesan, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Fold in chopped spinach if using. The egg helps the filling set and slice neatly.
  6. Layer 1—Sauce: Spread 1 cup of meat sauce over the bottom of the baking dish.
  7. Layer 2—Noodles: Arrange noodles to cover, overlapping slightly if needed.
  8. Layer 3—Cottage cheese: Spoon half of the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles and spread gently.
  9. Layer 4—Mozzarella: Sprinkle about 2/3 cup mozzarella evenly.
  10. Repeat layers: Sauce, noodles, remaining cottage cheese, more mozzarella. Finish with a final layer of noodles and the rest of the meat sauce.
  11. Top and bake: Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and the rest of the Parmesan over the top. Cover tightly with foil (tent slightly to prevent sticking) and bake 25 minutes.
  12. Uncover and finish: Remove foil and bake another 15–20 minutes, until the top is bubbling and lightly browned. For extra color, broil 1–2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
  13. Rest and slice: Let the lasagna rest 10–15 minutes before slicing. This helps it set and prevents slipping layers.
  14. Garnish: Sprinkle with chopped basil or parsley before serving.