Description
This simplified cottage cheese lasagna offers all the cheesy, saucy goodness of traditional lasagna but with an added creaminess and a lighter feel. It’s an incredibly simple to assemble, budget-friendly, and customizable dish that delivers pure comfort food bliss, making it a perfect family meal.
Ingredients
- 1 box Lasagna Noodles
1 lb Ground Beef
2 jars (24 oz each) Marinara Sauce
24 oz Cottage Cheese
2 Large Eggs
0.5 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
3 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
0.25 cup Chopped Fresh Parsley
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
0.5 tsp Salt
0.25 tsp Black Pepper
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 lb ground beef, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until thoroughly browned, then drain any excess fat. Stir in 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper. Pour in 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently cook for at least 15 minutes, allowing flavors to meld
- Make the Cottage Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, combine 24 oz cottage cheese, 2 large eggs, 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese, and 0.25 cup fresh chopped parsley. Mix everything well until fully incorporated
- Preheat Oven & Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish
- Layer the Lasagna: Spread about 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles over the sauce, breaking them if needed to fit. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese layer. Add another layer of meat sauce (about 1.5 cups). Repeat the noodle, cottage cheese, mozzarella, and meat sauce layers once more. Place the final layer of noodles on top. Cover generously with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella and extra Parmesan cheese over the very top
- Bake: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes
- Uncover & Finish: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Let the cottage cheese lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving
Notes
For an extra firm and less watery lasagna, drain excess moisture from cottage cheese by placing it in a colander lined with cheesecloth for 30 minutes to an hour.
If using traditional noodles, boil them just until al dente as they will finish cooking in the oven. No-boil noodles are also a great shortcut.
Spread a thin layer of sauce under the first noodle layer to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking. Distribute all layers as evenly as possible for a balanced bite.
Allow your lasagna to rest for 10-15 minutes after baking; this helps the layers settle for cleaner slices and a more cohesive dish.
Use a flavorful marinara sauce you love, or make your own from scratch, as it forms the base of your lasagna.
Cover the lasagna with foil for the first part of baking to help cook the noodles and prevent the cheese from browning too quickly.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Lasagna freezes beautifully, both baked (wrapped tightly in plastic and foil for up to 3 months) and unbaked (thaw overnight, then bake as instructed, potentially adding 10-15 minutes to baking time).
Reheat individual slices in the microwave or larger portions covered with foil in an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C) for 20-30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 35 mins
- Cook Time: 55 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32.5 g
- Fiber: 4.5 g
- Protein: 37.5 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Keywords: cottage cheese lasagna, easy lasagna, comfort food, family dinner, beef lasagna