Description

This Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake is packed with flavor from ground beef, crisp veggies, and creamy cottage cheese. A simple dish perfect for a quick dinner or a comforting meal, sure to please your 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 (I prefer 94% lean ground beef))
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

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F.
Cook the 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 diced onion for 3–4 minutes until softened, then add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
Add the sliced mushrooms and chopped zucchini to the pot. Let them sit undisturbed for 5–8 minutes to brown, then stir and cook for an additional 2–3 minutes.
Push the veggies to one side of the pot. Add the ground meat, breaking it apart as it cooks for 4–5 minutes. Mix everything together and continue cooking until mostly cooked through, draining excess grease if necessary.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, parsley, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 2–3 minutes.
Mix in the cottage cheese until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
Add the cooked pasta to the mixture and toss well to coat evenly.
Transfer the mixture to a 9×13 dish, top with torn mozzarella, and bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with chopped parsley.

Notes

For a vegetarian option, substitute the ground meat with additional vegetables or a meat alternative.
Feel free to use other pasta shapes if you prefer, just adjust cooking time as necessary.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 550
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 750mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 54g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 32g
Cholesterol: 80mg