This healthy cottage cheese pasta bake is made with ground turkey, marinara sauce and protein-packed cottage cheese. It’s creamy on the inside, with a layer of crispy melted cheese on top. An easy high protein pasta bake recipe that everyone will love.
This post is all about how to make a healthy cottage cheese pasta bake.
As a dietitian, I'm always looking for ways to add more protein to everyday comfort foods. And cottage cheese does just that! In this recipe the cottage cheese ramps up your meal's nutrition while keeping that creamy, comforting texture we all know and love in a pasta bake.
This dish is perfect for preparing ahead, reheating beautifully for an easy lunch or midweek dinner. Not only is it packed with protein from cottage cheese, but it's also loaded with nutritional benefits like probiotics, calcium, and B-vitamins.
If you've been to my site before you will know by now that I'm pretty obsessed with cottage cheese. I've used it in everything from hummus, pasta sauces and even my cheesy white bean bake.
Jump to:
- Cottage Cheese in Pasta Bakes
- Why This Dietitian Loves This Recipe (And You Will Too!)
- Tips for Choosing Ingredients For This Pasta Bake
- How to Make This Healthy Baked Pasta with Cottage Cheese
- This is so easy to throw together during the week, I'm finding so many uses for cottage cheese with your recipes.
- Substitutions
- Recipe Variations
- Equipment
- Storage
- More Cottage Cheese Recipes
- Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips for Making This Recipe or Dietitian Top Top
- FAQs For This Pasta Bake With Cottage Cheese
- Related
- Want to Learn About Nutrition?
- 📖 The Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Cottage Cheese in Pasta Bakes
Cottage cheese replaces traditional ricotta in baked pastas, tasting nearly identical while adding protein. It's a low-calorie cheese with a mild flavor—soft, white, and creamy. Available in different milk fat levels and curd sizes, it offers versatility for various recipes.
Best Cottage Cheese
I recommend choosing a container with "live cultures" for probiotic benefits. While many opt for 2% fat to save calories, the difference is minimal—4% milk fat provides extra creaminess. One cup of 4% cottage cheese (240 grams) delivers 25 grams of protein, leaving you feeling satiated.
Cottage Cheese Nutritional Benefits
Beyond protein, cottage cheese is a source of many vitamins and minerals, including:
- calcium
- vitamin B12
- selenium
- phosphorus
- riboflavin (B2)
- magnesium
- folate
- vitamin B6
Why This Dietitian Loves This Recipe (And You Will Too!)
- You only need a handful of ingredients (less than 10!) to make this cottage cheese pasta bake!
- Easily customise for your needs & preferences - Use this as a base recipe and switch it up by changing the protein, switch up the vegetables, and more!
- The ingredients are nutritious and it takes less than 45 minutes to make, perfect for a quick family dinner on a busy weeknight.
- High in protein and low in saturated fat: combines ground turkey, cottage cheese, and mozzarella
- Budget-friendly: uses affordable ingredients like pasta and cottage cheese
- Meal-prep friendly: makes great leftovers
- Sneaks in two portions of vegetables per serving
- Ready in 45 minutes and baked dishes are so easy
- Kid-friendly despite being packed with nutrition
Tips for Choosing Ingredients For This Pasta Bake
Below are some ingredient notes. For the exact ingredient measurements and the full recipe, be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom.
- Pasta - I recommend rigatoni as its tubes capture the sauce perfectly. Look for whole wheat options for added fiber. If you want to boost the protein and fiber content even more you could also swap the regular pasta for a chickpea or lentil pasta.
- Olive oil - used for frying the turkey mince, use vegetable or avocado oil if you prefer.
- Turkey Mince (Ground Turkey): Choose lean turkey mince around 93% lean for the best balance of flavor and nutrition.
- Onion - I used one full onion but you could use less if you prefer.
- Garlic - Some freshly minced garlic cloves are added for an extra punch of flavor.
- Onion and garlic powder - this extra layer of seasoning really makes a difference
- Broccoli: Fresh is best, but frozen works too - just thaw and drain well.
- Cottage Cheese: Opt for 4% milk fat cottage cheese - it provides extra creaminess for only slightly more calories.
- Marinara Sauce: Choose one with no added sugars or make your own, you could also use my roasted red pepper pasta sauce recipe too.
- Mozzarella: I used a pre-shredded part skim mozzarella.
- Parmesan - Added to the top of the pasta bake, this is the cheese that melts and gets a little crisp – characteristic of most pasta bakes. You’re welcome to use another shredded cheese that melts well, like cheddar.
- Herbs & Seasonings: Fresh basil makes a difference, but dried works too if your having difficulty sourcing fresh. I find it very hard to come by fresh basil in Bermuda!
How to Make This Healthy Baked Pasta with Cottage Cheese
Below are the simple steps for how to make this cottage cheese pasta bake recipe with visuals I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Step 2: 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.
- Step 3: Add the broccoli and sauté for about 7 minutes until slightly softened. Remove from heat.
- Step 4: 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.
- Step 5: Top with Parmesan and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and bubbly.
- Step 6: Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil.
This is so easy to throw together during the week, I'm finding so many uses for cottage cheese with your recipes.
Eleanor Lordan
Substitutions
Here are some tips to help you adjust the recipe to suit your individual dietary needs and preferences
- Lower calorie- use a 2% cottage cheese and reduced fat or skimmed mozzarella. You could also reduce the amount of cheese and/or pasta whilst increasing the amount of vegetable sin the dish.
- Gluten free- Use your favorite certified gluten-free pasta and double check that your marinara sauce is gluten free.
- Vegetarian - Swap turkey for Quorn (plant based mince), lentils, beans, or extra vegetables.
- Dairy-Free - Replace cottage cheese with dairy-free ricotta, use dairy-free mozzarella. You could also sprinkle nutritional yeast on top to keep that cheesy flavor.
- Lower Carb - Replace half the pasta with extra vegetables or use chickpea pasta.
- Heart healthy - this is already heart healthy but to keep the saturated fat low use reduced fat mozzarella cheese.
How to make this recipe higher in protein? Choose a pasta made from legumes, like chickpea pasta!
How to make this recipe higher in fiber? Add more veggies, swap the turkey mince for lentils and sprinkle hemp hearts on top.
Let me know in the comments if you do make any of these adjustments, I'd love to hear how it worked out! 💛
Recipe Variations
This is a very versatile pasta bake recipe. Use this as a base and then mix things up depending on what you crave or what ingredients you have in your fridge. Here are a few suggestions.
- You are welcome to use any short pasta shape of your choice – penne, rigatoni, shells, etc.
- Instead of broccoli, you may use other veggies like chopped zucchini or bell peppers.
- Instead of mozzarella, you could use another shredded cheese that melts well, like cheddar.
- Swap the ground turkey for ground beef.
- Add red pepper flakes for heat.
- Include mushrooms for extra umami.
- Add sundried tomatoes for extra flavor.
- Add an Italian seasoning or other herbs of your choosing.
Equipment
- Large pot for boiling the pasta
- Large skillet or frying pan - Used to pre-cook the veggies and mince in a pan, before combining them with the rest of the ingredients.
- 9x13 inch baking dish or casserole dish - I like this set as it also has lids which are useful for storing
- Colander to strain the pasta
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.
More Cottage Cheese Recipes
Serving Suggestions
- Pair with a simple side salad [LINK: Try my mason jar salad prep]
- Serve with garlic bread for a heartier meal
- Add a squeeze of lemon for freshness
- Sprinkle with extra fresh basil and red pepper flakes
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe or Dietitian Top Top
- 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.
FAQs For This Pasta Bake With Cottage Cheese
Absolutely! Double the vegetables or add white beans or lentils for a vegetarian protein source.
The top should be golden brown and bubbling at the edges. A knife inserted into the center should come out hot.
This usually happens if the cottage cheese was too wet or id you used frozen evgetable sthat were not fully thawed. Make sure to drain any excess liquid from the vegetables and consider straining very wet cottage cheese.
While you can, cottage cheese provides more protein and a lighter option. If using cream cheese, reduce the amount by half.
Related
Looking for other dietitian curated recipes like this? Try these:
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some nutrition education articles from a dietitian! And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out - I'm here to help.
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @marialuceyrd_dietitian
📖 The Recipe
Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta Bake (High Protein + Budget Friendly!)
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
- 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.
- 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.
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- Cook the pasta just to al dente as it will continue cooking in the oven.
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- Don't skip seasoning the turkey while cooking - this builds flavor.
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- Let the bake rest for 5-10 minutes after coming out of the oven to set.
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- Use a large enough baking dish to allow for some crispy top bits
Nicole de Guia says
Delicious! Very filling and satisfying. Great meal prep recipe.
Maria Lucey RD says
I'm so happy to hear this! Thank you so much for trying my recipe Nicole and taking the time to leave feedback - I truly appreciate it!