Description

This Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake combines rich flavors with creamy cottage cheese and savory ground beef. Simple to prepare and ideal for a cozy dinner, it satisfies cravings for homemade comfort food.

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

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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. 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. Let them sit undisturbed for 5–8 minutes to brown, then stir and cook for 2–3 more minutes.
Push the veggies 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 cooked through. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Stir in crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for 2–3 minutes.
Add the cottage cheese to the mixture and stir until fully combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.
Add the cooked pasta to the pot and toss everything together until evenly coated.
Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 dish, top with torn mozzarella, and bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.

Notes

For a vegetarian version, you can substitute the meat with extra vegetables or beans.
Feel free to adjust the cheese types and quantities according to your preference.
You can prepare this dish ahead of time and bake it just before serving.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/6 of the bake
Calories: 450
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 20g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 40g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 28g
Cholesterol: 80mg