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Meaty Lasagna with Cottage Cheese Recipe

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4.1 from 15 reviews

This Meaty Lasagna with Cottage Cheese is a hearty, comforting Italian-American classic featuring layers of tender lasagna noodles, rich ground beef meat sauce, fresh baby spinach, and a creamy cottage cheese mixture. Topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan, it’s baked to bubbly perfection for a satisfying family meal.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings

Ingredients

Lasagna and Meat Sauce

  • 12 lasagna noodles
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 5-6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 32 oz. spaghetti sauce
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • Fresh cracked pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil, for tossing noodles

Cheese and Spinach Filling

  • 5 oz. fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • 24 oz. 4% milkfat cottage cheese
  • 8 oz. shredded whole milk mozzarella, divided
  • 5 oz. grated Parmesan, divided
  • 2 large eggs

For Garnish

  • Fresh chopped parsley
  • Grated Parmesan

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the lasagna layers evenly.
  2. Cook Noodles: Boil the lasagna noodles for approximately 3 minutes less than the package’s recommended time to keep them firm but pliable. After cooking, toss them with olive oil to prevent sticking.
  3. Make Meat Sauce: In a large sauté pan over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks. Add minced garlic, dried oregano, and season with salt and fresh cracked pepper. Stir and cook for about one minute until fragrant. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and stir to combine thoroughly, then set aside.
  4. Prepare Cheese and Spinach Filling: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped fresh baby spinach, half the shredded mozzarella, half the grated Parmesan, cottage cheese, eggs, and season with salt and pepper. Mix until well incorporated.
  5. Assemble Lasagna – First Layer: Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce evenly on the bottom. Layer three lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping them.
  6. Add Cheese Filling and Sauce Layers: Spread one-third of the spinach-cheese mixture over the noodles. Drizzle a heaping 1/2 cup of meat sauce on top of the filling. Add another layer of three noodles and repeat spreading one-third of the cheese filling and topping with 1/2 cup meat sauce. Repeat this layering once more.
  7. Final Noodles and Sauce: Place the remaining three noodles on top. Spread the remaining meat sauce over the noodles evenly.
  8. Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the top evenly with the remaining shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses for a golden crust.
  9. Bake: Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 5 minutes to brown the cheese.
  10. Rest and Serve: Allow the lasagna to rest for at least 10 minutes after baking to set. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and additional grated Parmesan before slicing and serving. Enjoy!

Notes

  • For best results, do not overcook the noodles initially to prevent mushiness when baked.
  • You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat for a lighter version.
  • Ensure the baking dish is well greased to prevent sticking.
  • Resting the lasagna after baking helps the layers set and makes slicing easier.
  • This lasagna can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated; bake just before serving.
  • Author: Maya
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Find it online: https://recipeteach.com/meaty-lasagna-with-cottage-cheese-recipe/