Description
This Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake features a mouthwatering combination of pasta, ground beef, and creamy cottage cheese, making it a comforting meal perfect for weeknight dinners. It’s easy to prepare and will please the whole family!
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 oven to 400°F.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat 1–2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cook the onion for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add mushrooms and zucchini. Let sit undisturbed for 5–8 minutes to brown, then stir and cook for 2–3 more minutes.
- Push veggies to one side of the pot. Add ground meat, break it up, and cook for 4–5 minutes. Mix everything together and cook until mostly cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in the cottage cheese until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Add cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated.
- Transfer to a 9×13 dish, top with torn mozzarella, and bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes until melted and bubbly.
- Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve. You can add chopped parsley on top, too.
Notes
For a vegetarian option, substitute ground meat with lentils or more vegetables.
Feel free to mix in other favorite vegetables like spinach or bell peppers.
This dish can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg