Homemade Lasagna is made easily by layering pasta, meat sauce, cheese, and then baked to perfection! While there are many variations of lasagna, our quick lasagna recipe stands out as it is homemade with cottage cheese.
This lasagna with cottage cheese is a family favorite and one of our go-to dishes when the weather turns cold. It is made with a ground beef lasagna sauce, a blend of spices, cheeses. The addition of cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and a tangy flavor that complements the other ingredients well.
Homemade Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
In surveying the contents of my pantry and fridge earlier this week, I decided to make lasagna. I figured I might as well embrace the cool weather and enjoy this comforting dish. This lasagna is easy and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. I do change out a few ingredients, but it doesn’t alter the recipe much and it makes it even less expensive.
A lot of lasagna recipes use ricotta cheese in their cheese mixture which is perfectly fine, but for a slightly different texture and very similar tastes, you can swap it out for cottage cheese instead. The cottage cheese adds a creamy texture and tangy flavor to the dish. It is a low-fat cheese, a good source of protein and calcium, making it a healthy addition to this recipe.
This recipe for lasagna with cottage cheese is a delicious twist on the traditional recipe that is sure to become a family favorite!
Why You’ll Love This Classic Lasagna Recipe
- Easy steps to follow. One of the reasons why you will love this recipe is because it is incredibly easy to make. You don’t need any special equipment or ingredients, and the recipe can be customized to your liking. Whether you prefer a meaty lasagna or a vegetarian version, this recipe can be adapted to suit your tastes.
- One batch makes a lot. There is no need to worry, because you’ll definitely have leftovers after this dinner is over. Lasagna always tastes better reheated the next day, in my opinion.
- Simple ingredients. Another reason why you will love this recipe is because it is made with classic ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. Ground beef, a blend of spices, cheeses, and tomatoes are layered between lasagna noodles to create a flavorful and cheesy pasta dinner.
Ingredients for Homemade Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
Ground beef: You need 1 pound of ground beef for plenty of protein in every bite.
Onion: Adding 1 medium-sized chopped onion (about ½ cup) will give the dish a nice depth of flavor.
Garlic: 2 teaspoons of garlic will help enhance the flavors in this dish well.
Seasonings: To give the lasagna nice Italian flavors, add in 2 tablespoons of dried parsley and 2 teaspoons of dried Italian seasoning.
Sugar: You will need 2-3 tablespoons of granulated sugar for the sauce to cut down on the acidity in the tomatoes.
Diced tomatoes: Add two 14.5-ounce sized cans of diced tomatoes and 6-ounces tomato sauce for a nice hearty sauce.
Tomato paste: Use one 6-ounce sized can of tomato paste for added thickness in the sauce.
Noodles: You need 9-12 lasagna noodles for this recipe. This is not an entire box of lasagna noodles, consider doubling the batch to freeze a lasagna for later!
Cottage cheese: Use one 15-ounce sized container of cottage cheese, this is roughly 2 cups.
Eggs: Adding 2 eggs helps bind the cheese mixture and give it great texture.
Parmesan cheese: Using ½ cup of parmesan cheese gives this dish more amazing taste!
Oregano: Mix in 1 ½ teaspoons of dried oregano leaves will help season the lasagna in all the layers.
Mozzarella cheese: You will need 8-ounces (2 cups) of shredded mozzarella cheese for even more cheesy goodness.
How to make Homemade Lasagna with Cottage Cheese
Prep
Get the started by dicing the onions into small pieces. Also, pull out all the required ingredients and have them ready, that will be helpful as this recipe moves along.
Sauce
Next, in a 10-inch skillet, over medium heat, cook the ground beef, diced onion, and garlic. Stir occasionally until the beef is no longer pink; then drain the excess grease once fully cooked.
Then stir in 2 tablespoons of the parsley, 1 tsp of basil, the sugar, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Proceed to bring this mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Pasta & filling
Get the oven preheating to 350ºF. Now, cook the lasagna noodles as directed on the package and drain when done.
In a small bowl, mix the cottage cheese, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, the remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley, and the oregano together until well combined.
Assemble
Now, gather all of the needed baking dishes, pasta, sauce, and cheeses. I like to use foil dishes for the lasagnas I freeze and a glass baking dish for the one being served for dinner that night.
Proceed to spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture in the bottom of the baking dish. Then top with 2-3 lasagna noodles.
After that, spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over the noodles and then another 1 cup of the sauce mixture on top of that layer. Sprinkle the top layer with ⅔ cup of mozzarella cheese.
Repeat with four noodles, the remaining cheese mixture, 1 cup of the sauce mixture, and ⅔ cup of the mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and sauce mixture. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. I like to sprinkle a little parsley on top too!
Bake
Cover the baking dish with foil, place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Then, uncover the dish and bake about 15 minutes longer or until the top of the lasagna is hot and bubbly. Let stand for about 15 minutes before cutting.
Slice, serve and enjoy!
Batch Cooking and Freezing
Something else I do that’s a little different is that I always make more than one lasagna at a time. We have 2 adults and 3 small children, so a big tray of lasagna will feed us all a few times. You can only eat so many meals of leftovers, though, so to minimize potential waste, I split the recipe into 3 lasagna, and we eat one for dinner and then freeze the other two.
It’s so nice to just pull a lasagna out of the freezer for those other two meals. Homemade lasagna, like many other made-from-scratch meals, taste so much better than store-bought.
Easy Homemade Lasagna
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped (about ¾ cup)
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 TBSP dried parsley
- 2 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 2 TBSP sugar
- 30 oz diced tomatoes lightly drained
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 6 oz tomato paste
Cheese Mixture
- 15 oz cottage cheese 2 cups
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ tsp dried oregano leaves
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 8 ounces
- 9-15 lasagna noodles
Instructions
- Prep: Dice the onions into small pieces. If you want to pull out all the required ingredients and have them ready, that will be helpful as this recipe moves along.
- Sauce: Cook the ground beef, diced onion, and garlic in a 10-inch skillet, over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the beef is no longer pink; drain excess grease once cooked. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the parsley, Italian seasoning, sugar, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for about 45 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Prep & pasta: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cook the lasagna noodles as directed on the package and then drain when done. If using non-cook noodles, you can omit this step!
- Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, mix the cottage cheese, eggs, ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, the remaining 1 tablespoon of parsley, and the oregano together until fully combined.
- Assemble: Spread about 1 ½ cups of the sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Top with 3-4 noodles, whatever can fit in your pan to cover the surface. After that, spread 1 cup of the cheese mixture over the noodles and then spread another 1 cup of the sauce mixture on top of that layer. Sprinkle the top layer with ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat this process 2 more times.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil, place in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover the dish and bake about 15 minutes longer or until the top of the lasagna is hot and bubbly. Let stand for about 15 minutes before cutting. Slice, serve and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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Storage and Reheating Tips for Homemade Lasagna
Storing Leftovers: Lasagna with cottage cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Make sure to cover the lasagna tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. It is recommended to cut the lasagna into individual portions before storing it in the refrigerator. This will make reheating easier and faster.
Freezing Instructions: Lasagna with cottage cheese can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, cut the lasagna into individual portions and wrap each portion tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Make sure to label each portion with the date and contents. When ready to eat, thaw the lasagna in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheating Tips: There are a few ways to reheat lasagna with cottage cheese. The easiest way is to microwave it. Simply place the individual portion on a microwave-safe plate and heat it on high for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Another way to reheat lasagna is to bake it in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F, place the individual portion in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through. To get a crispy top, remove the foil during the last 5 minutes of baking. Finally, you can reheat lasagna on the stovetop. Place the individual portion in a non-stick skillet and heat over medium-low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
What are the best cheeses to layer in a lasagna?
When making a lasagna with cottage cheese, it’s important to choose the right cheeses to layer with it. Some of the best options include shredded mozzarella and parmesan. These cheeses complement the flavor of the cottage cheese and add a creamy texture to the dish.
How can I enhance the flavor of my cottage cheese lasagna?
To enhance the flavor of your cottage cheese lasagna, consider adding a blend of spices such as oregano, basil, and garlic powder to the ground beef mixture. Additionally, you can add a layer of sautéed vegetables such as onions, bell peppers, and mushrooms to add depth to the flavor profile.
What are some tips for achieving the perfect bake on a lasagna?
To achieve the perfect bake on a cottage cheese lasagna, it’s important to cover the dish with foil during the first half of the baking time to prevent the cheese from burning. Additionally, letting the lasagna sit for 10-15 minutes after removing it from the oven will allow the cheese to set and make it easier to cut and serve.
For more pasta recipes, check out these suggestions!
- LASAGNA ROLLS
- BIG MAC PASTA SALAD
- CHICKEN CAESAR PASTA SALAD
- BLT PASTA SALAD
- STUFFED PASTA SHELLS
- CREAMY TOMATO SOUP WITH TORTELLINI
- PIZZA PASTA CASSEROLE
- PUMPKIN FETTUCINE ALFREDO
- COPYCAT RUBY TUESDAY PASTA SALAD
- RED WHITE AND BLUE PASTA SALAD
- EASY ZUCCHINI PASTA
- EASY CHICKEN MANICOTTI
- CHICKEN BACON RANCH PASTA
- MARTHA’S ONE-POT PASTA
- COPYCAT CHICK-FIL-A MAC AND CHEESE
- CREAMY GARLIC PARMESAN PASTA
- BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN CASSEROLE
- TORTELLINI PRIMAVERA
- LASAGNA SOUP
Easy Homemade Lasagna a delicious, comforting and filling meal for every day of the week. This quick lasagna recipe is a fantastic alternative to store bought lasagna, a perfect main dish for pasta night!
Tammy says
Is this recipe for 3 lasagna meals or just one? Thank you! 🙂