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This high-protein cottage cheese lasagna is the ultimate comfort food made lighter! It’s cozy, satisfying, and packed with protein without feeling heavy. It comes together quickly and easily with lean ground turkey, no-boil oven-ready lasagna noodles, flavorful marinara sauce, and a creamy cottage cheese mixture.
For more creamy, protein-packed pasta dishes with cottage cheese, try our cottage cheese mac and cheese and cottage cheese Alfredo sauce next!
Table of Contents
- 🔍 Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Substitutions & Variations
- How To Make High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips
- Storage Instructions
- Cottage Cheese Lasagna FAQs
- More High-Protein Meals to Try!
- High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna Recipe
🔍 Quick Look: Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 1 hour
- 🕒 Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- 🍽 Calories: ~320 kcal per serving
- 👥 Servings: 6 servings
- 🥣 Key Ingredients: Cottage cheese, ground turkey, lasagna noodles
- 📖 Dietary Information: High-protein, meal-prep friendly
- 👩🍳 Cook Method: Baked
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy, perfect for effortless weeknight dinners.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- High-Protein: This lasagna is packed with protein from the ground turkey and cottage cheese!
- Quick & Simple: We used simple ingredients and no-boil lasagna noodles for quick and stress-free prep!
- Creamy & Cheesy Without Ricotta: The cottage cheese mixture creates an incredibly creamy texture that tastes just like classic ricotta. You won’t even miss it!
- Lightened-Up: All the cozy, classic lasagna flavors you love, made healthier with cottage cheese and ground turkey breast.
- Great for Meal Prep: This lasagna reheats beautifully. It’s great for leftovers, meal prep, and busy weeknights.
“This high protein cottage cheese lasagna is delicious!! My husband, once again, had seconds 😊”
– gloria
Key Ingredients
- Ground Turkey Mixture: The ground turkey mixture comes together with lean ground turkey, diced onion, salt, and pepper for a protein-packed base.
- Cottage Cheese Mixture: A creamy blend of cottage cheese, whisked egg, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of nutmeg for classic lasagna flavor.
- Lasagna Sheets: No-boil lasagna sheets make this recipe quick and easy. It cuts down on prep time while still giving you perfect layers.
- Marinara Sauce: Layered throughout the lasagna for delicious saucy flavor in every bite.
- Cheese: Light shredded mozzarella cheese is layered in between layers and sprinkled on top for melty, cheesy goodness.
Find the full measurements in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Cottage Cheese Options: Use fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese for a lighter option. Or, use full-fat cottage cheese for extra creaminess.
- Lasagna Sheets to Use: No-boil oven-ready lasagna sheets make this recipe quick and easy. If you’re using regular lasagna noodles, cook them al dente according to package directions before assembling.
- The Best Marinara Sauce to Use: Use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce for this recipe. Or, try our healthy homemade marinara sauce, roasted tomato sauce, or slow cooker tomato sauce.
- Ground Turkey Swap: This recipe works well with lean ground turkey, ground turkey breast, lean ground chicken, ground chicken breast, or even lean ground beef.
- Add Veggies: Add chopped zucchini, spinach, or mushrooms while sautéing the onions, before adding the ground meat, if desired.
- Italian Seasoning Swap: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme.
How To Make High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, whisked egg, grated Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix until well combined.
- Lightly spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with olive oil spray and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking. Place two lasagna sheets on top. Then, spoon half of the cooked ground turkey mixture over them. Pour marinara sauce over top, sprinkle with mozzarella, and spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly.
- Add two more lasagna sheets, pour marinara sauce over top, then layer on the remaining cooked ground turkey mixture and the remaining cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Top with the final two lasagna sheets, pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over top, and finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the lasagna tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
- Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set and to keep the layers intact.
Serving Suggestions
Top this high-protein cottage cheese lasagna with fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley or basil before serving for extra freshness, if desired. Then, slice and enjoy it warm. It’s delicious on its own or served with a side of roasted vegetables, like our air fryer green beans or air fryer frozen broccoli. Or, serve it alongside our Italian chopped salad, Caprese salad, tomato basil salad, or healthy Caesar salad for a satisfying meal.
Expert Tips
- Combine the Cottage Cheese Mixture: Combine the cottage cheese, whisked egg, Parmesan, and seasonings so the mixture is evenly distributed and spreads smoothly in each layer.
- Sauce Is Key for Oven-Ready Noodles: Make sure each layer of oven-ready lasagna sheets is well covered with marinara sauce so they soften properly while baking.
- Cover Tightly While Baking: Covering the lasagna with foil for most of the bake time helps the no-boil noodles soften properly. Remove the foil during the last few minutes of baking to lightly brown the mozzarella on top.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover cottage cheese lasagna in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven until warmed through. Cottage cheese lasagna doesn’t freeze well.
Cottage Cheese Lasagna FAQs
Should I Use Cottage Cheese or Ricotta for Lasagna?
We recommend using cottage cheese instead of ricotta for lasagna. It’s creamy, packed with protein, and makes your lasagna more balanced, filling, and lighter.
Why Add Egg to Cottage Cheese Lasagna?
Adding a whisked egg to the cottage cheese mixture helps it hold together while baking, so the layers don’t spread and the lasagna slices more easily.
Which Cottage Cheese to Use for Lasagna?
You can use fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese in lasagna for a lighter option, or use full-fat cottage cheese for a creamier, richer option. Either way, it will be delicious!
More High-Protein Meals to Try!
If you try this recipe, please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating, ★★★★★, letting us know how it turns out for you.
High-Protein Cottage Cheese Lasagna
This high-protein cottage cheese lasagna is the ultimate comfort food made lighter! It comes together easily with ground turkey and oven-ready lasagna noodles.
Ingredients
For the Ground Turkey Mixture:
- olive oil spray or 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground turkey breast or lean ground turkey
- 1 medium brown or white onion, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
For the Cottage Cheese Mixture:
- 1 ½ cups cottage cheese, fat-free, low-fat, or full-fat
- 1 egg, whisked
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 pinch of nutmeg
For the Lasagna:
- 6 no-boil lasagna sheets
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups light shredded mozzarella
Instructions
- Cook the Ground Turkey: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the diced onion until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Then, add the ground turkey, season with salt and pepper, and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Make the Cottage Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, whisked egg, grated Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of nutmeg. Mix until well combined.
- Assemble the Lasagna: Lightly spray a 9×9-inch baking dish with olive oil and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking. Place two lasagna sheets on top, then spoon half of the cooked ground turkey mixture over them. Pour marinara sauce over top, sprinkle with mozzarella, and spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly.
- Second Layer: Add two more lasagna sheets, pour marinara sauce over top, then layer on the remaining cooked ground turkey mixture and the remaining cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
- Final Layer: Top with the final two lasagna sheets, pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over top, and finish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Cover the lasagna tightly with foil and bake at 350°F for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
- Rest and Serve: Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set and to keep the layers intact.
Video
Notes
- Cottage Cheese Options: You can use fat-free or low-fat cottage cheese for a lighter option, or full-fat cottage cheese for extra creaminess.
- Lasagna Sheets to Use: No-boil oven-ready lasagna sheets make this recipe quick and easy. If you’re using regular lasagna noodles, cook them al dente according to package directions before assembling.
- Protein Options: This recipe works well with lean ground turkey, ground turkey breast, lean ground chicken, ground chicken breast, or even lean ground beef.
- Italian Seasoning Swap: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, use 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, and 1/8 teaspoon dried thyme.
Nutrition
Serving: 1slice, Calories: 320kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3.5g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 680mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This high protein Cottage cheese lasagna is delicious!! My husband, once again, had seconds😊
Hi Gloria, this makes me so happy to hear! I’m so glad that both you and your husband enjoyed the cottage cheese lasagna! Thank you so much for leaving a review! 🙂
I just made this for dinner and it was so delicious!! And easy!! It came together so quickly and easily with the oven ready lasagna noodles. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Michelle, I’m so happy you enjoyed this cottage cheese lasagna an that it came together quickly and easily!
This recipe is so delicious. The best part is the just right amount it makes. Perfect for a couple of left overs if I don’t want to put it in the freezer. Do you girls have an enchilada recipe with a fair amount of WW points?
Hi Mary, I’m so happy you enjoyed the cottage cheese lasagna and that it made the perfect amount! And yes, we have an enchilada recipe. For a lower-point option, our ground turkey enchilada skillet is a lighter version made in one pan with the flavors of enchiladas, and only 2 WW points per serving. Or, if you’re looking for classic enchiladas, we have a recipe for healthy chicken and cheese enchiladas made in a baking dish, and those are 5 WW points per serving. I hope you enjoy, let us know how it goes!
This high-protein cottage cheese lasagna is one my Italian Nonna would be proud of. It tastes incredibly authentic, but it’s made lighter with ground turkey and cottage cheese instead of ricotta. It’s so delicious, I’m honestly never going back to traditional lasagna after this. Trust me, it’s that good!
have you tried this with something non-dairy? My GI tract doesn’t like cottage cheese or ricotta cheese either.
Hi Meryl, we haven’t tried it with a non-dairy option, bout I would recommend swapping the cottage cheese with blended silken tofu for a creamy, neutral option that bakes up beautifully, or use a cashew “ricotta” if you want a slightly richer, more indulgent non-dairy alternative. I hope you enjoy this lasagna. Let us know if you give it a try.