This lasagna recipe with cottage cheese is a lighter twist on a classic lasagna recipe, without sacrificing flavor. With layers of noodles, rich meat sauce, and a creamy cottage cheese mixture, it’s the perfect balance of comfort and simplicity. Whether you’re making it for a family dinner or prepping for the next day, this is one of those best lasagna recipes you’ll keep on repeat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A lighter take on cottage cheese lasagna with plenty of flavor
- Still delivers that classic, comforting cheesy lasagna feel
- Made with simple ingredients and easy peasy steps
- Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping individual portions
- Great for leftovers—tastes even better the next day
- A reliable homemade lasagna recipe the whole family will love
- Uses oven-ready lasagna noodles (no need to boil noodles)
Try some of our other lasagna recipes!
Ingredient Notes
This lasagna recipe with cottage cheese uses simple ingredients with a few helpful swaps.
- Ground meat - Use ground beef or turkey depending on preference. Both work well in the meat sauce.
- Cottage cheese - The creamy cottage cheese mixture replaces ricotta cheese for a lighter option. You can swap with whole milk ricotta if preferred. You can also try our baked ravioli casserole with spinach and use ravioli filled with ricotta cheese.
- Marinara - A good-quality marinara sauce makes a big difference (we like Rao's). You can also use a homemade sauce if you have one.
- Cheese - Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese give the best melt and flavor.
- Vegetables - Carrots and spinach add nutrients and blend seamlessly into the sauce.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Build even layers - Spread each layer into an even layer for consistent texture throughout.
- Start with sauce - Add sauce to the bottom of the baking dish so the noodles don’t stick.
- Don’t skip resting - Let the lasagna sit after baking so the layers set and slice cleanly.
- Switch it up - Add extra herbs or a pinch of italian seasoning for more flavor.
- Make it ahead - Assemble as an unbaked lasagna and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Add an extra layer - If you have an extra noodle, you can create additional layers of noodles and filling.
How to Make Lasagna With Cottage Cheese
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
Step 2: Add the onion, carrots, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened.
Step 3: Stir in the spinach and marinara sauce. Cook until the spinach is wilted, then remove from heat.
Step 4: In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form the cottage cheese mixture.
Step 5: Spread about ½ cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
Step 6: Layer 3 lasagna noodles, followed by ⅓ of the remaining meat sauce.
Step 7: Add half of the cottage cheese mixture, spreading into an even layer.
Step 8: Repeat with another layer of noodles, another ⅓ of the meat sauce, and the remaining cottage cheese mixture.
Step 9: Add the final layer of noodles, then top with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
Step 10: Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. You can turn the oven to broil for a few minutes at the end if needed.
Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese FAQs
Store leftover lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven until warmed through. This is a great way to enjoy easy meals throughout the week.
Yes! This cottage cheese lasagna freezes really well both before and after baking.
To freeze before baking (unbaked lasagna): Assemble the lasagna as directed, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and a layer of foil. Freeze for up to 2–3 months. When ready to bake, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed (you may need to add 5–10 extra minutes to the bake time).
To freeze after baking: Let the lasagna cool completely, then store in an airtight container or wrap individual portions tightly. Freeze for up to 2–3 months.
To reheat: Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the oven covered with aluminum foil until warmed through, or microwave individual portions.
This is a great way to have a comforting, homemade meal ready for busy nights or to enjoy leftover lasagna later on.
This recipe is not gluten free, dairy free, vegan, or vegetarian. If you want a gluten free pasta recipe try our BLT Banza pasta salad.
Other Delicious Pasta Recipes
If you make this lasagna with cottage cheese recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished product—it makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Lasagna Recipe With Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
For the meat sauce:
- 1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground meat (beef or turkey)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- ¾ cup finely shredded carrots
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 3 cups chopped spinach
- 32 ounces marinara sauce (Rao's is our recommendation)
For the cottage cheese mixture:
- 16 ounces of cottage cheese (Good Culture is our recommendation)
- 1 egg
- ½ cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
For the lasagna:
- 9 oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 1 cup freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking it into small pieces, until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
- Add the onion, carrots, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in the spinach and marinara sauce. Cook until the spinach is wilted, then remove from heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form the cottage cheese mixture.
- Spread about ½ cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish.
- Layer 3 lasagna noodles, followed by ⅓ of the remaining meat sauce.
- Add half of the cottage cheese mixture, spreading into an even layer.
- Repeat with another layer of noodles, another ⅓ of the meat sauce, and the remaining cottage cheese mixture.
- Add the final layer of noodles, then top with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned. You can turn the oven to broil for a few minutes at the end if needed.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:
- Assemble ahead - Prepare the full lasagna and refrigerate as an unbaked lasagna until ready to bake. You may need to add a few minutes to the bake time if it is cold from the fridge.
- Freeze for later - Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil or store in a freezer bag for longer storage.
- Portion it out - Divide into individual portions for easy reheating.
- Prep components early - Make the meat sauce and cottage cheese mixture ahead of time.
- Plan for leftovers - This recipe is perfect for enjoying the next day or even later in the week.
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Lasagna With Cottage Cheese." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.
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