Description
This Cottage Cheese Lasagna is a delicious and easy-to-make Italian classic, featuring layers of blended cottage cheese mixed with herbs and spices, savory marinara meat sauce, and melty mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. The recipe uses simple ingredients and offers a creamy texture with a perfectly browned cheesy top, making it a comforting meal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Meat and Sauce
- 1 lb ground meat (your choice: beef, turkey, chicken, or pork)
- 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce (your favorite brand)
Cheese Mixture
- 32 ounces cottage cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Other
- 9 lasagna noodles (regular or oven-ready)
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the middle to ensure even baking.
- Blend Cottage Cheese: Place the 32 ounces of cottage cheese in a blender and blend until smooth and creamy to eliminate the curds, which helps create a uniform texture in the lasagna.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk the 2 eggs thoroughly. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in the blended cottage cheese along with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, combining everything well with a fork.
- Cook Meat Sauce: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook for 8–10 minutes, breaking it up with a spatula until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess grease, then stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for a couple of minutes to warm through.
- Assemble Lasagna Base: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. Arrange a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, followed by half the cottage cheese mixture spread evenly over the noodles. Spoon some of the meat sauce over this layer, then add another layer of noodles on top.
- Continue Assembly: Repeat the layering with the remaining cottage cheese mixture and about half of the remaining meat sauce. Top this with a final layer of noodles. Spread the remaining meat sauce evenly over this last noodle layer.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese over the top of the prepared lasagna.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. This helps the lasagna cook evenly and retain moisture.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil carefully and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes uncovered to brown the cheese topping to a beautiful golden color.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the lasagna from the oven and allow it to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This resting time helps the layers set for easier slicing and enhances the flavors.
Notes
- Blending the cottage cheese removes curds and makes the cheese layer creamier for a smoother lasagna texture.
- Using oven-ready noodles saves time by eliminating the need to boil noodles beforehand.
- Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Allowing the lasagna to rest after baking helps prevent it from falling apart when served.
