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Protein pasta bake with marinara

Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta Bake delivers a 5-Ingredient Ultimate High-Protein Comfort Dish.

  • Author: RyderJameson
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Low Fat

Description

Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta Bake is your new weeknight winner—creamy, high-protein comfort with less heaviness. This simple 5-ingredient dish blends cottage cheese into a velvety sauce, folds it through al dente pasta, and bakes to bubbling, cheesy perfection. Lean turkey, mozzarella, and Parmesan deliver solid protein, while marinara adds flavor without heavy cream. Perfect for meal prep, family dinners, and fitness-friendly meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz pasta (whole wheat or regular)
  • 1 lb lean ground turkey or ground beef
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain.
  3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 3–4 minutes.
  4. Add ground turkey and cook until browned. Stir in garlic and cook 30 seconds.
  5. Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5 minutes.
  6. In a bowl, mix cottage cheese with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
  7. Combine cooked pasta with meat sauce, then fold in cottage cheese mixture.
  8. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
  9. Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  10. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a lighter version, use part-skim cottage cheese and part-skim mozzarella.
  • Gluten-free option: use gluten-free pasta.
  • Lunchbox-friendly: this dish stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days or can be frozen for longer.
  • Let it rest 5 minutes after baking to set for cleaner servings.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 510
  • Sugar: 9 g
  • Sodium: 640 mg
  • Fat: 25 g
  • Saturated Fat: 12 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 60 g
  • Fiber: 6 g
  • Protein: 41 g
  • Cholesterol: 120 mg

Keywords: Cottage Cheese Protein Pasta Bake, high-protein pasta bake, cottage cheese pasta, healthy weeknight dinner, easy protein dinner, lean turkey pasta bake

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Find it online: https://www.cookbyco.com/cottage-cheese-protein-pasta-bake/