By This skillet lasagna pasta with cottage cheese is packed with 32g of protein and is ready in under 30 minutes! Skillet lasagna is one of the best high protein pasta recipes to throw together when you're in a pinch but want to make a filling meal for your family. Plus, these classic flavors make it as impressive as traditional homemade lasagna, but it's so easy to make you'll actually be able to visit with family and not be glued to the kitchen.
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the key to skillet lasagna
Keep stirring! The uncooked pasta for this cooks in the same pot as the sauce, so you have to keep stirring to prevent it from sticking. We love a one-pot high-protein cottage cheese dinner! I use a small cut pasta, but you can use lasagna noodles and just break them up.
ingredient notes & substitutions
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Bison (or beef): I prefer bison for this skillet lasagna recipe because it cooks faster and is leaner, but you can use lean ground beef, ground turkey, or Italian sausage. Whatever meat you have or are feeling!
- Veggies & herbs: You'll need garlic, yellow onion, carrots, and basil.
- Seasonings: Grab red pepper flakes (optional) and Italian seasoning from your spice rack.
- Sauce & broth: Pick your favorite pasta sauce and some bone broth. I like to use a garlic or herb marinara sauce. If you're a fan of bone broth, be sure to check out our bone broth pasta recipe!
- Protein Pasta: Frilly noodles or lasagna noodles work best. I like to use Goodles Loopdy Loops protein pasta. Broken-up lasagna noodles work too. If you want to reduce the carbs, you can use half the noodles in this recipe and add extra veggies. Or, use a low-carb pasta or a veggie gnocchi like cauliflower gnocchi.
- Cheese: Instead of ricotta cheese, you'll be using cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
high protein ingredient spotlight: cottage cheese
Cottage cheese packs an impressive amount of protein, providing about 14 grams of protein per half-cup serving - more than many other common dairy products you might use. Its mild, creamy flavor and versatile texture make it an excellent addition to both sweet and savory dishes, from protein tiramisu to marry-me chicken to cottage cheese stuffed peppers.
how to nail this cottage cheese lasagna every time
- Brown the ground beef in a large and deep pan or Dutch oven. Then, add in the veggies and spices so they aren't burned or overcooked.
- Add the pasta last. Pour in the pasta sauce and bone broth, then add in the pasta and stir to coat.
- Make sure the pasta is covered with liquid and add more bone broth if needed.
- Stir in the cottage cheese, then top with mozzarella and parmesan. After the cheese has melted, finish with a sprinkle of fresh basil. Easy!
quick recipe video
helpful tips
- Best noodles: I typically use Campanella, bowtie, or Cascatelli noodles. Or if you can find a protein lasagna noodles broken up. Really, any small cut like rotini, farfalle, rigatoni, or penne will work.
- Broil the cheese: You can also pop the dish in the oven to broil the cheese at the end! This makes it taste like a classic lasagna recipe with cottage cheese.
- Reheating: The key to reheating is to add a splash more broth to rehydrate the noodles. I do this when reheating it for my toddler's lunch!
why is my pasta not cooking evenly?
Make sure that you use a pot that can allow the noodles to be completely submerged. Add more bone broth if you notice it absorbing faster than the pasta is cooking. And stir the high protein lasagna recipe as it cooks.
storage tips
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 5 days in an airtight container or the freezer for 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. Be sure to reheat it with a splash of broth.
how I serve this lasagna pasta
This dish is hearty and will fill you up all on its own. However, if you're looking for some pairings, I love it with a side salad, like my lemon kale bean salad, protein green goddess salad, or Italian dense bean salad. These are great pairings to amp up the fiber of your dinner.
If you tried this cottage cheese lasagna pasta recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Recipe
skillet lasagna pasta with cottage cheese (a high protein dinner)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef (ground bison, turkey, or Italian sausage work too)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced)
- 3 full-size carrots (grated)
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 24oz jar of pasta sauce (*not tomato sauce*)
- 1 cup bone broth (any kind)
- 8 oz frilly protein pasta (I like to use Goodles)
- 1 cup cottage cheese (low fat)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ¼ cup parmesan (grated)
- ½ bunch fresh basil (thinly sliced)
Before you start!
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Instructions
- Brown the 1 pound lean ground beef over medium heat in a large, deep stock pot, like a Dutch oven. After it releases some of its fat, stir in the 4 cloves garlic, 1 small yellow onion, and 3 full-size carrots. When the beef is nearly done, add the 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine.
- When the beef is done, pour in the 1 24oz jar of pasta sauce, and 1 cup bone broth. Stir to combine. Pour in the dry 8 oz frilly protein pasta. If using lasagna noodles, break them into 1" pieces. Use a spoon to press the pasta down into the sauce so it's completely covered. You may need to maneuver the pasta around the beef to cover it completely. Add more bone broth to cover the pasta fully, but not too much because we want a thick pasta sauce!
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook covered for 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is soft but still has a bite to it (al dente).
- Stir in the 1 cup cottage cheese , then top with ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup parmesan. Cover once more and continue to cook until the cheese has melted (2-3 minutes). Top with ½ bunch fresh basil. Store leftovers in the fridge for 5 days or the freezer for 3 months.
Video
Notes
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
This was delicious!!!😋
This was tasty, my husband even went back for seconds. I followed the directions to the T, but for some reason, my pasta wasn't cooking quickly enough. I had to add a cup more bone broth and let it cook for about 10 minutes, stirring it to make sure nothing was sticking to the bottom of the pot, and all the pasta was cooking, as I noticed it wasn't cooking evenly. After cooking longer it was almost perfect, but some of the pasta was a little more al dente than others. just something to be aware of probably depending on what type of pasta you're using. I'll definitely make this again.
*directions on how to modify this for the instant pot would be nice!
Easy and delicious! My 1 and 3 y.o. Cleaned their plates!
Love this recipe! So easy to make all in 1 pot.
So happy you enjoyed!
Great recipe! I did have to leave the dish cooking longer so that the pasta could cook all the way, but this could have been because I didn’t have something to cover it with. Took twice as long as the recipe called for the pasta to cook. I also stirred it a bit towards the end so that all the pasta could cook evenly. Delicious!
Great to hear! Yes, covering your pot drastically reduced the cook time since it keeps all the moisture inside. You can cover it with even like a wood cutting board to cut down on the cook time next time.
My boyfriend loves this and it’s in our meal prep schedule.
That's great to hear - it's perfect for that!
I have made this many times for my toddler grandson and he loves it! My husband and I love it also! Easy to make, delicious, and nutritious!
So happy you guys enjoy!