Lasagna With Cottage Cheese

Our dear Aunt Lana always made the very best lasagna, the best I ever remember tasting! It was a treat every time we visited her house, and we were so thrilled when she agreed to share her delicious recipe with us. Hot sausage, plump tomatoes, cottage cheese, Italian spices and lots of glorious mozzarella cheese layered between tender pasta, this recipe is easy to make and always a crowd pleaser! Serve it with a big green salad and some of our Pizza Factory Bread Sticks and you’ll have a warm comfort meal your family will request again and again.

Why Cottage Cheese?

Cottage cheese is mild and light compared to ricotta cheese and usually cheaper and easier to find. It gives the lasagna a creamy layer that is similar to ricotta or a béchamel. For best results use a full-fat cottage cheese instead of low-fat cottage cheese. This will make the lasagna much less runny after it cooks and will hold the layers together better. Of course, if Ricotta is what you have on hand, you can always use that instead. It will still taste great!

Ingredients in Cottage Cheese Lasagna

This easy lasagna recipe uses simple ingredients that can be found at any supermarket.

Ground beef Italian sausage Onion Garlic Basil Diced tomatoes Tomato paste Lasagna noodles Tomato sauce Eggs Whole milk cottage cheese Parmesan cheese Parsley Salt and black pepper Mozzarella cheese

What Kind of Cheese to Use in Lasagna?

There are so many types of cheese in this rich, delicious dish! For the “binding” cheese layer we use cottage cheese and parmesan. For the melty cheese, I like to slice fresh mozzarella into thin strips (it seems to melt easier that way) and several handfuls of fresh Parmesan cheese (or better yet, Parmigiano Reggiano).

Storing the Leftovers

If your baking dish has a lid, simply place the lid on tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you only have a few serving left, remove from the pan and store in a smaller airtight container.

Can I Freeze Lasagna?

Yes! This homemade lasagna recipe makes a huge batch, so we usually freeze leftovers in individual servings in Ziplock bags. They make the perfect lunch or dinner. Just thaw how many pieces you’ll need and re-heat in the microwave and enjoy! You can also make an extra batch then cover in freezer safe foil and wrap and freeze the entire pan until you want to bake it. You can thaw the lasagna or bake from frozen. Just allow extra baking time if baking from frozen, probably an extra 40-60 minutes. Read Next: 33+ Easy Dinner Ideas

More Favorite Italian Recipes

There’s nothing better than a big bowl of pasta, cheesy recipes and dashes of oregano. Try a few of our very favorite Italian dishes and see for yourself: