Description
Comforting cottage cheese pasta bake blends Mediterranean flavors with hearty pasta and rich, tangy cheese. Simple ingredients create a satisfying meal that brings warmth and deliciousness to your dinner table, promising a delightful experience you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) pasta (penne, rotini, or your choice)
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) cottage cheese (low-fat or regular)
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) marinara sauce
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) parmesan cheese (grated)
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) vegetables (spinach, bell peppers, or zucchini, chopped)
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Optional Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil (for sauteing veggies)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C), preparing a welcoming environment for a delectable pasta transformation.
- Boil a generously salted water pot, submerging pasta until it reaches perfect al dente texture in roughly 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Optional vegetable enhancement: Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, gently sautéing chopped vegetables until they soften and develop a slight translucent quality, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Create a harmonious mixture by combining cooked pasta, cottage cheese, marinara sauce, sautéed vegetables, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a spacious mixing bowl. Stir until ingredients integrate seamlessly.
- Transition the pasta medley into a greased 9×13-inch baking vessel, ensuring even distribution. Crown the mixture with an elegant layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, covering the surface completely.
- Slide the baking dish into the preheated oven, allowing it to bake for 25-30 minutes. Watch for the cheese to transform into a molten, bubbling landscape with golden-kissed edges.
- Once removed from the oven, permit the dish to rest and settle for 5-10 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and structural integrity to develop before serving.
Notes
- Boost protein content by adding shredded chicken or ground turkey for extra nutrition and flavor.
- Swap marinara for creamy Alfredo sauce to create a richer, more indulgent version of this dish.
- Use whole wheat pasta to increase fiber intake and make the recipe more heart-healthy.
- Prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate unbaked, then pop it in the oven when ready to serve for a convenient meal prep option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg