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High protein cottage cheese lasagna slice showing creamy layers and melted cheese

High Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna

A game-changing twist on classic lasagna that delivers incredible flavor while packing 22 grams of protein per serving using cottage cheese instead of ricotta.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 277
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic roughly chopped
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground beef 96/4 works best
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 32 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 16 oz low-fat small curd cottage cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 0.5 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 teaspoon oregano for cottage cheese filling
  • 0.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning for cottage cheese filling
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt for cottage cheese filling
  • 1 pinch fresh cracked pepper to taste
  • 10 oz frozen spinach defrosted and well-drained
  • 8 oven-ready lasagna noodles
  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Large mixing bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Cookie sheet
  • Aluminum foil

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add chopped garlic and onions, cooking until golden and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
  3. Add ground beef, breaking into bite-sized pieces as it cooks for about 5 minutes until no pink remains.
  4. Stir in oregano, Italian seasoning, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper until meat is evenly coated.
  5. Pour in marinara sauce and let simmer while preparing cottage cheese mixture.
  6. In large bowl, combine cottage cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese, oregano, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until well incorporated.
  7. Add defrosted and thoroughly drained spinach to cottage cheese mixture.
  8. Spray 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and add dollop of meat sauce to bottom.
  9. Layer 4 oven-ready noodles across width of dish, then ½ cup mozzarella, half the meat mixture.
  10. Add half the cottage cheese mixture, spreading evenly.
  11. Repeat with remaining noodles, ½ cup cheese, remaining meat sauce, remaining cottage cheese mixture.
  12. Top with final cup of mozzarella cheese.
  13. Place baking dish on cookie sheet, cover tightly with foil.
  14. Bake 50 minutes covered, then remove foil and bake 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.

Notes

Use small curd cottage cheese for best smooth texture. Use lean ground beef (96/4) for healthiest option. Thoroughly drain spinach by squeezing out excess water. No need to blend cottage cheese - melts naturally during baking. Place baking dish on cookie sheet to catch overflow.