Best Lasagna Recipe with Cottage Cheese

Easy Recipe and Cooking Instructions

Ingredients

For the Meat Sauce:

• 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 can (28 oz or 800g) crushed tomatoes
• 1 can (6 oz or 170g) tomato paste
• 1 can (14.5 oz or 410g) diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato sauce (optional, for extra richness)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Cheese Mixture:

• 2 cups (450g) cottage cheese
• 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella cheese (for layering)

For Assembly:

• 9-12 lasagna noodles (regular or no-boil)
• Extra shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 cups or 200g) for topping
• Fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

Prepare the Meat Sauce

• Cook the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute.
• Brown the Meat: Add ground beef (or sausage) to the skillet and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat.
• Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce if using. Add basil, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Prepare the Cheese Mixture

Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, and egg. Mix well.

Cook Noodles

Boil Noodles: If using regular lasagna noodles, cook according to package instructions until al dente.

Drain: Drain and lay flat on a towel to prevent sticking.

Assemble the Lasagna

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Layer: In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom. Place a layer of noodles over the sauce.
• Add Cheese Mixture: Spread a portion of the cottage cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat: Continue layering with meat sauce, noodles, cottage cheese mixture, and mozzarella cheese until you’ve used all ingredients. The final layer should be meat sauce topped with extra mozzarella cheese.

Bake

• Cover and Bake: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
• Uncover and Bake: Remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browned.
• Rest: Let the lasagna rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.

Serve

• Garnish: Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
• Enjoy: Serve hot and enjoy your homemade lasagna!