Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

There's something about pulling a bubbling pan of lasagna out of the oven on a Sunday night that just feels like winning at parenting. This easy lasagna recipe with cottage cheese has been my secret weapon for years, ever since I got tired of ricotta drying out and decided to try something different.

The first time I swapped in cottage cheese, Alex looked at me like I'd lost my mind. Jessica was about 8 at the time, and she's always been my pickiest eater. However, one bite in, my husband went quiet (which in our house means he's too busy eating to talk), and surprisingly, Jessica asked for seconds. That was the moment I knew we'd never be going back.

If you've been making lasagna the traditional way and want a creamier, lighter, protein-packed version, you're in the right place. For a slightly different take using a similar approach, you can also check out my original cottage cheese lasagna recipe, which uses a slightly thinner sauce layer.

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Cottage Cheese Lasagna
• Simple Ingredients For This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese
• Step By Step Instructions For This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese
• Storage And Reheating Tips
• Fun Variations Of This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese
• FAQs About This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese
• Recipes You May Like
• Final Thoughts
• Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

Why You'll Love This Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Here's the thing about this recipe. Basically, it's a total crowd-pleaser, and it fits into real life with real kids and a real budget.

• Hearty meat sauce made with beef and Italian sausage for deep, savory flavor
• Creamy cottage cheese filling that's lighter than ricotta but just as satisfying
• Three cheeses melted together (mozzarella, Swiss, and Parmesan) for that pull-apart effect
• Protein-packed thanks to the cottage cheese, so it actually fills up teenagers
• Freezer-friendly for busy weeknights when I don't have the energy to cook
• Family approved by my most honest taste tester, Jessica

Simple Ingredients For This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

Most of this is pantry and fridge staples. Also, I buy everything at my regular grocery store, so no fancy trips required.

For the meat sauce:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 lb Italian sausage
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional but I love the little kick)
• 32 oz marinara sauce (store-bought is totally fine)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the cottage cheese filling:

• 1 ½ cups full-fat small curd cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

For layering:

• 12 lasagna noodles
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 cups shredded baby Swiss cheese

Quick tip from experience. Always grab full-fat, small curd cottage cheese here. Otherwise, the low-fat stuff gets watery, and I learned that the hard way one snowy Tuesday when I ended up with a soupy mess.

Step By Step Instructions For This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

Don't let the number of steps scare you off. Once you start, it all comes together pretty fast.

Preheat And Prep

First, preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.

Make The Meat Sauce

Add the ground beef, Italian sausage, and chopped onion to a large, deep pan or Dutch oven. Next, cook over medium-high heat, breaking the meat apart as it browns.

Once there's no pink left, drain off the extra fat. After that, stir in the garlic, marinara, oregano, salt, and pepper. Finally, let it heat through, then turn it down to low and let it simmer while you handle the rest.

Cook The Noodles

Bring a big pot of water to a rolling boil. Then, add a generous pinch of salt and a swirl of olive oil (this keeps the noodles from sticking together, which is the worst).

Drop in the noodles and cook them about 2 minutes less than the box says. After draining, lay them flat on parchment paper so they're ready when you are.

Mix The Cottage Cheese Filling

In a medium bowl, stir together the cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan, parsley, salt, and pepper. That's it. Now, set it aside.

Layer The Lasagna

Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the dish. Top with 4 noodles lengthwise.

Next, sprinkle on half of the mozzarella and Swiss mixture. Add 4 more noodles, then spread half of the remaining sauce.

After that, spoon all of the cottage cheese mixture over the sauce. Top with the last 4 noodles, the rest of the sauce, and finish with the remaining cheese.

Bake And Rest

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the cheese is golden and the edges are bubbling. Afterward, let it sit for 10 minutes before slicing. I know, the waiting is rough, but honestly, it's the difference between clean slices and a sloppy mess.

Storage And Reheating Tips

Leftovers keep beautifully in the fridge for up to 4 days in an airtight container. Honestly? Jessica says it tastes even better the next day for school lunch.

For freezing, assemble the whole lasagna in a foil pan, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. Typically, it'll keep for 3 months. Meanwhile, bake it straight from frozen at 350°F, covered with foil, for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Then uncover and bake another 20 to 30 minutes until bubbly.

For reheating individual slices, a quick 2 minutes in the microwave does the trick.

Fun Variations Of This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

Want to switch things up? Here's what's worked in my kitchen.

• Swap the Swiss for provolone or extra mozzarella
• Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version
• Toss a cup of chopped spinach into the cottage cheese filling for hidden veggies (Jessica never noticed)
• Add sliced mushrooms to the meat sauce
• Make it spicier with more red pepper flakes

Ever tried making lasagna in individual ramekins? Admittedly, it sounds fussy, but it's actually kind of fun for date night.

FAQs About This Easy Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese

Recipes You May Like

• Cottage Cheese Pasta Sauce for another creamy, protein-packed dinner idea
• 3-Ingredient Cottage Cheese Breadsticks that make the perfect side for lasagna night
• Cottage Cheese Mac And Cheese for another cheesy, kid-approved comfort meal

Final Thoughts

This easy lasagna recipe with cottage cheese is everything I want in a weeknight dinner. It's hearty, it's creamy, it freezes beautifully, and it makes my whole family happy without me spending hours in the kitchen.

Give it a try this weekend. Save it to Pinterest so you don't lose it, and come back to tell me how it went. I'd love to hear if your family loved it as much as mine does.

Happy cooking,

Print