Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake (High Protein + Budget Friendly!)

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Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake (High Protein + Budget Friendly!)

This healthy cottage cheese pasta bake is a protein-packed, budget-friendly dinner that's ready in 45 minutes. It combines lean turkey, cottage cheese, and vegetables for a high-protein, nutritious dinner.

Prep Time10

Cook Time35

Course: lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cottage cheese pasta bake, cottage cheese recipes, healthy pasta bake

Servings:

Calories: 455kcal

Author: Maria Lucey RD

Equipment

Large pot for boiling the pasta
Large skillet or frying pan used to cook the ground turkey
9x13 inch baking dish or casserole dish I like this set as it also has lids which are useful for storing
colandar to strain the pasta

Ingredients

224 g dry pasta I recommend rigatoni
20 mls olive oil
450 g ground turkey / turkey mince I used 93% lean
1 white onion diced (160g)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
150 g broccoli florets 2 cups
500 g cottage cheese 2 cups
500 g marinara sauce 2 cups
84 g reduced fat mozzarela ¾ cup
28 g parmesan ¼ cup
pinch salt & pepper
5 large fresh basil leaves chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
224 g dry pasta
Cook the turkey mixture: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, onion, and garlic. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until the turkey is browned and the onion is translucent.
20 mls olive oil, 450 g ground turkey / turkey mince, 1 white onion, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Add the broccoli and sauté for about 7 minutes until slightly softened. Remove from heat.
150 g broccoli florets
Assemble the bake: In a 9x13-inch dish, mix the pasta, turkey mixture, cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and ¾ cup mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper.
500 g cottage cheese, 500 g marinara sauce, 84 g reduced fat mozzarela
Top with Parmesan and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
28 g parmesan
Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil.
5 large fresh basil leaves

Notes

NUTRITION ANALYSIS

This recipe serves 4-6 people depending on your portion sizes.

For 6 people each serving provides 455 calories 37g of protein and 4g of fiber.
For 4 people each serving provides 682 calories, 56g of protein and 6g of fiber.

If you swap regular pasta to chickpea pasta the macros are as follows:

For 6 people each serving provides 443 calories 40g of protein and 6g of fiber.
For 4 people each serving provides 665 calories, 59g of protein and 9g of fiber.

Remember, though, that a recipe is much more than its nutritional content, and these numbers shouldn't solely dictate your food choices.

From a nutritional perspective, this is a nutrient-dense lunch or dinner option. While healthy means something different to everyone, this is a balanced meal providing starchy carbs, protein veggies and minimal saturated fat.

Recipe Modifications:

Need to adapt this recipe to your unique needs? E.g., gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan. Details on how to do this can be found in the full blog post.

Storage

✔ Refrigerator: Leftovers will keep for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can easily reheat them in either the oven or the microwave.

✔ Freezing Instructions: Allow the pasta to cool before transferring into an airtight freezer-safe container before storing them in the freezer. Freeze for up to 3 months.

✔ Make-Ahead Instructions: Assemble up to 24 hours ahead, keep refrigerated and add extra 5-10 minutes to bake time

✔ Reheating: Microwave individual portions or reheat in oven at 350°F (175°C) until hot

TOP TIPS FOR MAKING THIS COTTAGE CHEESE PASTA BAKE

- Cook the pasta just to al dente as it will continue cooking in the oven.

- Don't skip seasoning the turkey while cooking - this builds flavor.

- Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes after coming out of the oven to set.

- Use a large enough baking dish to allow for some crispy top bits

For more nutrition information and tips, visit www.marialuceydietitian.com and come say hi on Instagram and YouTube I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! 😊

Nutrition