Easy Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese
This easy lasagna recipe with cottage cheese is a lighter, budget-friendly twist on the classic Italian dish. With layers of pasta, savory meat sauce, and creamy cottage cheese filling, it’s hearty, protein-packed, and perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Essential:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 jar 24 oz marinara sauce
- 2 cups cottage cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 12 lasagna noodles
- 2 cups water for cooking
Optional Add-ins:
- 2 cups fresh spinach chopped
- 1 medium zucchini thinly sliced
- 8 oz mushrooms sliced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ground beef in a skillet until browned. Drain excess fat, stir in marinara sauce, and simmer 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, eggs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and lay flat.
- Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a greased 9x13” baking dish.
- Layer noodles → half cottage cheese mixture → ½ cup mozzarella → meat sauce.
- Repeat layers.
- Top with remaining noodles, sauce, mozzarella, and extra Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil, bake another 10–15 minutes until golden.
- Rest 10–15 minutes before serving.