I’m a pasta lover at heart, so even when I am in a deficit phase (weight loss), I will always try to incorporate it into my diet. This High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake is a macro-friendly pasta dish that will warm your heart while fitting your macros.
At only 360 calories and 30g of protein per hearty serving, this is the kind of meal that you can feel great about. Plus, this dish is one that the whole family can rally around and love!
If you’re looking for other high-protein pasta recipes, try our Buffalo Chicken Pasta with Cottage Cheese and our High Protein Pizza Pasta Skillet.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
It’s Contains 30g of Protein Per Serving
I loaded this High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake with protein from multiple sources to deliver a whopping 30g per serving. Between the lean ground turkey, cottage cheese, and protein pasta, this recipe is a protein powerhouse.
It’s Ready In 45 Minutes
While this isn’t the quickest meal, it’s super efficient and 25 minutes of that time will be spent in the oven getting all hot, bubbly, and melty. This is the kind of recipe that you can pop in the oven and accomplish some chores and tasks while it bakes – no need to hover in the kitchen!
It’s Family Friendly
If your family is like mine, they might balk at the thought of cottage cheese, but trust me when I tell you that even my pickiest eater enjoyed this dish. The cottage cheese is virtually undetectable and you can even blend it to make it completely disappear.
My Easy, High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 12 oz protein pasta
- 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Ingredient Tips
Choose a low-fat cottage cheese: I prefer Good Culture 2% cottage cheese, but any brand with a low-fat option will do.
Choose your favorite pasta: I used Banza protein pasta for a little protein boost, however, regular pasta works just fine. Additionally, you can choose any pasta shape you prefer.
How To Make This Recipe (Step-by-Step Instructions)
Kitchen Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
- 8×8 or 9×13 baking dish
- Large pot
- Large skillet
Step 1: Preheat oven, boil water, and cook ground turkey
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Add a pot of water to the stove and allow water to boil. Once boiling, add pasta and cook until al dente (8-10 minutes). In a large skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray, add ground turkey, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until no longer pink. Drain pasta, set aside. Drain ground turkey, set aside.
Step 2: Combine ground turkey and cottage cheese
In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground turkey and cottage cheese. Stir until well combined. Add pasta.
Step 3: Add to baking dish
In a greased 9×13 baking dish, spread half of the cooked pasta. Layer half of the cottage cheese and turkey mixture over the pasta. Pour half of the marinara sauce over the layer, then repeat with the remaining pasta, cottage cheese mixture, and sauce.
Step 4: Top with shredded cheese
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta bake.
Step 5: Cover and place in oven
Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 6: Serve and enjoy!
After the bake cools a bit, serve and enjoy warm.
Tips For Success
If the texture of cottage cheese is a turn off for you, try blending it first. If lumpy cottage cheese is a no for you (or your family) give it a good blend in a high-speed blender before adding to the recipe and you’ll know it was in there!
Try experimenting with different cheese for a new flavor experience. If you want to switch up the flavor a bit, try using different shredded cheese varieties. Cheddar, Mexican blend, asiago, parmesan, etc.
Macro Friendly Variations
Protein Adjustment
Increase Protein:
- Increase the amount of ground turkey in the recipe to 1.5-2 lbs.
Fat Adjustment
Increase Fats:
- Use full-fat cottage cheese instead of low-fat.
- Use a higher fat content ground turkey or swap for ground beef.
Decrease Fats:
- Use 99% fat-free ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Skip the shredded mozzarella cheese
Carb Adjustment
Decrease carbs:
- Reduce the amount of pasta in the recipe.
- Use a low-carb pasta option.
FAQs
No, the cottage cheese blends seamlessly into the other cheeses and pasta sauce, however, if you don’t blend it, you may still experience bits of cottage cheese throughout the pasta. If you want to completely hide the cottage cheese, blend it in a high-speed blender before adding to your dish.
Lean ground beef, ground chicken, or even cooked chicken breast (shredded or sliced) will work great in this recipe.
To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure that your pasta sauce is gluten-free as well.
Absolutely! This makes a great meal-prepped lunch or dinner. After cooking and cooling, portion your pasta into airtight containers and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply place it in the microwave for 60-90 seconds, or until heated through.
Conclusion
Want to eat your past and hit your goals, too? Same! So let’s make this High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake together! This is definitely the kind of recipe that you make once and then don’t need to reference again – it’s just so easy and basic!
The fact that my husband and kids all enjoyed this recipe, too, makes it a clear winner in my book. I hope it works for your family and goals as well! If you make this and enjoy, do me a huge favor and come back to leave me a review to let me know. Thank you so much for the support!
High Protein Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake
Equipment
- 1 Large Pot
- 1 Skillet
- 1 Baking dish (9×13)
- 1 Spatula or spoon
- 1 Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground turkey
- 12 oz. protein pasta
- 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the lean ground turkey, breaking it apart with a spatula. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until the turkey is browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked ground turkey and cottage cheese. Stir until well combined.
- In a greased 9×13 baking dish, spread half of the cooked pasta. Layer half of the cottage cheese and turkey mixture over the pasta. Pour half of the marinara sauce over the layer, then repeat with the remaining pasta, cottage cheese mixture, and sauce.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the assembled pasta bake.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the pasta bake cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy a warm, cheesy, high-protein meal!
