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Close-up of a freshly baked Lasagna with Cottage Cheese in a glass baking dish, showing layers of pasta, meat sauce, and cheese.

Amazing Lasagna with Cottage Cheese 1

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Written by Alex Hayes

August 11, 2025

You know, the kitchen used to totally intimidate me. I was so busy with work, and the thought of making a big meal felt like another chore. But then I discovered the pure joy of cooking, and it all changed. Now, I love finding simple ways to make comforting food, and this Lasagna with Cottage Cheese is honestly one of my absolute favorites. It’s so creamy and satisfying, and it uses cottage cheese instead of ricotta, which I find makes it even easier and adds a fantastic protein boost. Trust me, this recipe is a game-changer for weeknights!

Why You’ll Love This Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Seriously, this lasagna is a keeper! Here’s why it’s become a staple in my kitchen:

  • It’s an incredibly easy lasagna recipe, perfect even if you’re new to cooking.
  • It’s packed with flavor and that classic comfort food appeal everyone loves.
  • It’s a fantastic option for a hearty family dinner.
  • Looking for a lasagna no ricotta alternative? This is it! The cottage cheese makes it wonderfully creamy.
  • Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in some extra protein!

Ingredients for Your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Okay, let’s get down to business! Here’s what you’ll need to make this amazing Lasagna with Cottage Cheese. Don’t worry, these are all super common ingredients you can probably grab on your next grocery run.

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
  • 1 (24 ounce) container cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Alright, ready to build this amazing Lasagna with Cottage Cheese? It’s really not complicated at all! We’ll just go through it step-by-step, and you’ll have a delicious dinner in no time.

Preparing the Meat Sauce for Your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

First things first, let’s get that savory meat sauce going for your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese. Grab a big skillet, toss in your ground beef with the chopped onion and garlic. Cook it all up until the beef is nicely browned. Drain off any extra grease! Then, just stir in your crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and all those yummy dried herbs – basil, oregano – plus your salt and pepper. Give it a good stir, bring it to a simmer, and let it bubble away for about 15 minutes. This is where all that flavor really builds!

Creating the Creamy Cottage Cheese Filling

While that sauce is simmering, let’s whip up our creamy filling. It’s super simple! Just take that container of cottage cheese, the beaten egg, and your grated Parmesan cheese. Give ’em a good mix in a bowl. If you like a super smooth layer, you can even give it a quick whirl in a food processor – it’s my little trick for extra creaminess!

Assembling Your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Now for the fun part – building your gorgeous Lasagna with Cottage Cheese! Spread about a cup of that meat sauce on the bottom of your baking dish. Then, lay down a layer of your cooked lasagna noodles. Spoon about half of your creamy cottage cheese mixture over the noodles, spread it out evenly. Next, sprinkle on about a cup of mozzarella cheese. Top that with another layer of meat sauce, maybe about a cup and a half. We’ll just repeat that: noodles, the rest of the cottage cheese mixture, the rest of the mozzarella, and finally, top it all off with the remaining meat sauce. Easy peasy!

Baking and Resting Your Lasagna

Okay, almost there! Cover your baking dish tightly with foil. Pop it into your preheated oven (that’s at 375°F or 190°C) for about 25 minutes. Then, carefully remove the foil and let it bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until that cheese is all melted and bubbly and looks just perfect. Now, this next part is important: let your lasagna rest for about 10 minutes before you cut into it. It helps everything set up beautifully!

Tips for the Best Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Want to make your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese absolutely perfect every single time? I’ve picked up a few tricks along the way! Using lean ground beef helps keep things from getting too greasy, and be careful not to overcook your noodles – they’ll keep cooking in the oven. Trust me, a little patience with the layering makes a huge difference. Plus, knowing this is a fantastic high protein lasagna makes it feel even better to dig into, right?

Ingredient Substitutions for Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Sometimes you just gotta work with what you have, and that’s totally fine with this Lasagna with Cottage Cheese! If you’re out of cottage cheese, don’t fret; you can totally use ricotta cheese instead. If you want to sneak some veggies in, finely chopped mushrooms or zucchini work really well in the meat sauce. A little mozzarella blended with some cheddar on top is also yummy!

Make-Ahead and Storage for Lasagna

This lasagna is a lifesaver for meal prep! You can totally assemble the whole thing, cover it tightly, and keep it in the fridge for up to a day before you bake it. Or, if you want to freeze it, let it cool completely after baking, wrap it really well, and it should keep in the freezer for about 3 months. Just thaw it overnight in the fridge and reheat it in the oven until it’s warm all the way through.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

I get asked a lot of questions about this yummy Lasagna with Cottage Cheese, and I love it! It’s great that you’re thinking about how to make it your own. Here are some of the most common things people ask:

Can I use different pasta for my Lasagna with Cottage Cheese?

Absolutely! While I love the classic lasagna noodles, you can definitely use others. No-boil noodles work like a charm, just make sure you have enough sauce to cover them well. You could even try penne or rotini if you’re feeling adventurous, just layer them in! It just changes the classic lasagna look a bit, but it’s still delicious.

What if I don’t have cottage cheese for Lasagna?

No worries at all! If you find yourself without cottage cheese, the easiest swap is ricotta cheese. It’ll give you a very similar creamy texture. Some folks also like to mix in a little bit of sour cream or even plain Greek yogurt with the cottage cheese if they want an extra tang, but honestly, the cottage cheese is what makes this version so special and give you that great high protein lasagna feel!

Can this Lasagna with Cottage Cheese be made vegetarian?

Yep, making a vegetarian version is super easy! Just skip the ground beef and load it up with veggies. Sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, bell peppers, spinach, or even some extra onions work wonderfully in the sauce. It makes for a fantastic meatless meal, and it’s a great way to use up whatever veggies you have on hand. It’s still an amazing option for your cottage cheese recipes collection!

Is this recipe truly a lasagna no ricotta option?

Yes, it really is! The beauty of this recipe is that it uses cottage cheese as the primary creamy layer instead of ricotta. It gives a slightly different texture – sometimes a bit creamier or with little curds, which I actually love – and it’s often a bit more budget-friendly. So if you’re looking for a delicious lasagna that doesn’t use ricotta, this Lasagna with Cottage Cheese is perfect for you!

Serving Your Perfect Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Now that you’ve got that gorgeous pan of Lasagna with Cottage Cheese ready, what do you serve with it? A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette is always a winner, cutting through all that rich, cheesy goodness. Warm, crusty bread is also a must for soaking up any extra sauce – you know, the good stuff!

Understanding the Nutrition of Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Just a little note here about the nutrition for this delicious Lasagna with Cottage Cheese: The numbers I give are always estimates, okay? They can totally change depending on the brands you use and the exact ingredients. But the good news is, this recipe is a fantastic source of protein, thanks to all that cottage cheese and beef. It’s a hearty meal that really satisfies!

Share Your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese Creation

I’d absolutely *love* to hear how your Lasagna with Cottage Cheese turned out! Did you try any fun twists? Drop a comment below and let me know what you thought, and maybe even give it your own star rating. And if you snapped a pic of your beautiful creation, tag me on social media – I always love seeing your cooking triumphs!

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Easy Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

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A simple and delicious lasagna recipe using cottage cheese for a high-protein, creamy texture. Perfect for a comforting family dinner.

  • Author: purejoyalex
  • Prep Time: 25 min
  • Cook Time: 40 min
  • Total Time: 65 min
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
  • 1 (24 ounce) container cottage cheese
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  2. In a large skillet, cook the ground beef with the onion and garlic until the beef is browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. While the sauce is simmering, cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain well.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, beaten egg, and Parmesan cheese.
  6. Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  7. Arrange a layer of cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce.
  8. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles.
  9. Sprinkle about 1 cup of mozzarella cheese over the cottage cheese.
  10. Spoon about 1.5 cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella.
  11. Repeat the layers: noodles, remaining cottage cheese mixture, remaining mozzarella, and remaining meat sauce.
  12. Cover the baking dish with foil.
  13. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
  14. Let the lasagna stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a smoother cottage cheese layer, you can blend it briefly in a food processor.
  • If you don’t have cottage cheese, ricotta cheese can be used as a substitute.
  • This lasagna freezes well. Let it cool completely before freezing.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 10g
  • Sodium: 800mg
  • Fat: 20g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 5g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Cholesterol: 90mg

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Hi, I'm Alex! I believe incredible food doesn't have to be complicated. Here at Pure Cooking Joy, I share delicious, approachable recipes designed to bring happiness back into your kitchen. Let's get cooking!

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