Print

Quick High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Quick High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna - featured image
Print Recipe

A quick, hearty, and protein-packed lasagna using cottage cheese instead of ricotta, perfect for busy weeknights and healthy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 9 to 12 no-boil lasagna noodles (regular or whole wheat)
  • 2 cups (approximately 450g) small-curd, low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 ½ cups (about 150g) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 pound (450g) ground turkey or lean ground beef
  • 3 cups (720ml) marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add a teaspoon of olive oil, then sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic for 3-4 minutes until soft and fragrant.
  3. Add the ground turkey or beef to the skillet. Break it up with your spatula and cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes.
  4. Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Let it simmer gently for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese with grated Parmesan cheese, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Stir until well blended and creamy.
  6. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  7. Lay down 3 to 4 no-boil noodles in a single layer.
  8. Spread about one-third of the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the noodles, followed by one-third of the meat sauce, and a sprinkle of shredded mozzarella.
  9. Repeat the layering two more times: noodles, cottage cheese, sauce, and mozzarella.
  10. For the top layer, finish with noodles, remaining meat sauce, and the last of the mozzarella cheese.
  11. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  12. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese on top is golden and bubbling.
  13. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Use no-boil noodles to save time or boil regular noodles until pliable. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing to prevent messy servings. For a vegetarian version, substitute meat with sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach. To avoid soggy noodles, avoid excess sauce and use no-boil noodles. Fresh basil or parsley garnish adds brightness.

Nutrition

Keywords: cottage cheese lasagna, high protein lasagna, quick lasagna recipe, healthy dinner, easy lasagna, weeknight meal

Find it online: https://coracooks.com/quick-high-protein-cottage-cheese-lasagna-recipe-easy-healthy-dinner-idea/