Homemade Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Name: Homemade Lasagna
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 pound 93% lean ground beef; 16 ounces low fat cottage cheese; 16 ounces shredded mozzarella; 1 egg; 1 tablespoons parsley or fresh basil; 1 tablespoons minced garlic; 1 box oven ready lasagna noodles; 24 ounces spaghetti sauce

This is an incredibly easy homemade lasagna with cottage cheese that can be thrown together in just 10 minutes hands-on time. If you’re looking for a simple lasagna recipe with cottage cheese filling, this is the one for you! Learn more about what to serve with lasagna and reheating lasagna in the oven, too.

It’s so incredibly cheesy, gooey and filling with the perfect crispy edges and a rich sauce. It’s such an effortless weeknight dinner and one that the whole family loves!

lasagna on white plate next to casserole dish

Originally shared August 17, 2018, this recipe was updated October 4, 2021 with fresh content, tips, photos and a new Q+A section.

As the weather changes, so does our dinner menu. This time of year, I crave the taste and simplicity of homemade comfort foods like chili, walking tacos, and this delicious lasagna recipe with cottage cheese.

I was at a Better Homes and Gardens workshop once and the food editor (who is so fabulous) mentioned that studies showed people love to make homemade lasagna, even though it can be time-consuming.

However, it doesn’t have to be! I love the cooking process and frequently make my own noodles, but there’s not always extra time in the day and it’s completely unnecessary for a recipe as simple as this one.

With that in mind, I’ve updated my mom’s easy lasagna with cottage cheese recipe, and made it into 10-minute lasagna.

Why You’ll Love this Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

So easy to make
Minimal ingredients
Just 10 minutes hands on time
Just six ingredients + seasonings
So cheesy and rich
Great for a weeknight but perfect for a crowd, too

Homemade Lasagna Ingredients

ground beef – I use 93/7% lean ground beef, it softens up beautifully as it simmers in the sauce in the oven.
cottage cheese – when heated with shredded mozzarella and minced garlic, it creates the yummiest, gooiest lasagna filling that will have you coming back to this Homemade Lasagna recipe again and again!
shredded mozzarella – I prefer to freshly shred a block of cheese for the gooiest, meltiest lasagna.
egg – for binding the layers together.
parsley/basil – fresh is great, but dried will work too! You can use one, both, or none at all – especially if you have a great quality sauce in this recipe.
minced garlic – in a jar in the produce section of your grocer works well here as a shortcut, but you can of course mince your own fresh garlic!
lasagna noodles – use oven ready to save time and effort
spaghetti sauce – You can use any sauce you’d like here, including your favorite homemade marinara. However, for a shortcut, this recipe works beautifully with any store bought jarred sauce – our favorite store bought sauce is Rao’s.

Variations

Use a mixture of Italian sausage and ground beef for even more tender flavor.
You can use ricotta instead of cottage cheese in this lasagna, but it will have more calories and a richer, heavier taste.
Switch up the sauce! Try your favorite flavors of marinara in this recipe.

How to Make this Homemade Lasagna Recipe in Just 10 Minutes

Preheat oven and cook your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high (minutes 1-5)
Meanwhile, combine cottage cheese, mozzarella (if you have an extra 5 minutes, shred it from a block…makes it so creamy), minced garlic, basil or parsley, and an egg (minutes 1-5).
Line your dish with noodles. Cover with 1/2 of the ground beef and pour 1/4 of the spaghetti sauce on top.
Add another layer of noodles, half the cheese mixture. Add another layer of noodles, remaining ground beef and spaghetti sauce, yet another layer of noodles, the remainder of cheese mixture, top with noodles and sauce (minutes 5-10).
Cover with aluminum foil and bake. Remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes if using oven ready noodles.

I love this 9×9 square baking dish and it’s perfect for this lasagna recipe with cottage cheese. Oven ready and great for storage, too!

Shortcuts

This is where my favorite shortcut comes in. Have you tried oven ready noodles? I was skeptical, but they make lasagna easy!

The sauce softens the shortcut noodles in the oven and your family or guests will never know that you saved 20 minutes boiling noodles in a pot of water. The key is to use plenty of sauce and cover while baking so the steam aids in cooking the noodles.
Buy pre-minced garlic in the produce section of your grocer. You can mince your own, but this saves you a step!
Fresh herbs vs dried – fresh herbs add a beautiful flavor and vivid color, but if you don’t have them or don’t want to buy, that’s okay! Just be sure to use less dried, as they are more potent than fresh. Generally, a ratio of fresh to dried is one tablespoon of fresh herbs to one teaspoon of dried herbs.
Jarred spaghetti sauce is the easiest shortcut in this recipe too. Yes, I love a good homemade ragu, but there’s a reason this recipe comes together so quickly! Try Rao’s sauce if you’re looking for a high quality store bought option.

Tips for the BEST Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

Because there are minimal ingredients in this recipe, each ingredient is important – choose the best quality you can!
If you have a few extra minutes, fresh shred mozzarella for an extra creamy taste. This is one of my favorite, most important tips for every recipe I make – it’s worth it!
If you like extra crispy edges, remove the foil a little earlier to let them brown! So good.

overhead of homemade lasagna with cottage cheese in white dish garnished with basil

What to Serve with Lasagna

Take the classic family dinner route and pair this lasagna with cottage cheese with garlic bread and a fresh, vibrant green salad. The perfect meal!

However, you can also consider a variety of Italian themed appetizers, side dishes and desserts to round out this meal if you’re serving to guests or a larger group.

How to Store Lasagna with Cottage Cheese

At Room Temperature – This lasagna with cottage cheese can sit out for up to two hours while serving.
Refrigerate – Bring to room temperature and store refrigerated in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
Freeze – This recipe freezes beautifully! Store lasagna in an airtight container, (preferably wrapped tightly with aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn) in the freezer for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before use.

Reheating Lasagna in the Oven

Lasagna is one of the best meals for leftovers because it reheats beautifully after storing. Follow these simple steps for reheating lasagna in your oven.

From Refrigerator:

Preheat your oven to 350F and cover the lasagna (in an oven-safe dish) with aluminum foil.
Place the dish in the oven for around 30 minutes. You’ll want the lasagna to be hot all the way through, indicated by sauce bubbling at the edges.

Frozen lasagna is best thawed in the refrigerator overnight, but you can also reheat it in the oven directly from the freezer. You’ll simply need a few more minutes of the cooking time.

From Freezer:

Preheat your oven to 350F and cover the lasagna (in an oven-safe dish) with aluminum foil.
Bake the lasagna for approximately 45 minutes, until heated all the way through. Ideally, that’s 165°F in the center. No thermometer? That’s okay. You want full melted cheese on top, and sizzling, bubbling sauce at the edges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is lasagna better with ricotta or cottage cheese?

That’s a loaded question! Traditionally, lasagna was made with ricotta. However, lasagna with cottage cheese is a little lighter, while capturing all the same flavors everyone knows and loves.

Why add egg to cottage cheese lasagna?

The creamier, the better! Eggs act as a binding agent in lasagna, help the layers hold their form as the dish is served.

Is cottage cheese common in lasagna?

In the Midwest, yes it is! It’s easier to find at local grocery stores and creates a lighter, casserole style dish.

Is cottage cheese healthier than ricotta?

Both have quite a bit of protein! Cottage cheese is typically a little lower in calories. A cup of cottage cheese is approximately 220 calories. Ricotta is higher in calories at approximately 360 in a cup, but it also has a little more calcium.

A lasagna with cottage cheese in a white pan, a slice being scooped out with a spatula.

Dietary Considerations

Gluten Free – Choose gluten free lasagna noodles for a celiac-friendly lasagna.
Nut Free

I hope you enjoy this easy lasagna as much as our family has over the last 35+ years! That’s right, I’m not disclosing my age. Please, if you try it, let me know what you think by using the five-star rating in the comments below!

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