Description
This Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake is a delightful dish that combines flavorful pasta with lean meat, fresh vegetables, and creamy cottage cheese, making it a perfect choice for a quick and satisfying dinner. Enjoy the comforting textures and homemade goodness that this recipe brings to your table, perfect for family or guests alike!
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz tube pasta (rigatoni or penne)
- 1 large yellow onion (diced)
- 2 large garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 large zucchini (chopped)
- 8 oz bella mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 lb ground beef (turkey, or chicken)
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 ½ cup cottage cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp dried or fresh parsley
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
- 4 – 8 oz fresh mozzarella (torn)
- 1 – 2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add sliced mushrooms and chopped zucchini to the pot. Let sit undisturbed for 5–8 minutes to brown, then stir and cook for another 2–3 minutes.
- Push the vegetables to one side of the pot. Add the ground meat, breaking it up as it cooks for 4–5 minutes. Mix everything together and cook until mostly done, draining excess grease if necessary.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Add cottage cheese to the mixture, stirring until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Add the cooked pasta to the pot, tossing until evenly coated with the sauce.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 dish, top with torn mozzarella, and bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Allow the dish to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Consider adding chopped parsley on top for garnish.
Notes
Feel free to substitute the ground meat with your preferred protein choice or keep it vegetarian by omitting the meat.
For extra flavor, try adding some chili flakes for a little heat or sprinkle fresh herbs on top just before serving.
This dish is a great make-ahead option; simply assemble and refrigerate for up to a day before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg