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Cottage Cheese & Spinach Homestyle Beef Lasagna

This hearty beef lasagna features a spinach and cottage cheese layer, tender oven-ready noodles, and a flavour-packed tomato sauce—a comfort-food favourite.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Lasagna Layers
  • Oven-ready lasagna noodles
  • 2 or 3 handfuls fresh baby spinach
  • 2½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese (for topping)
Meat Filling
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1½ tsp dried oregano
  • 1½ tsp dried basil
  • Pinch of hot red pepper flakes
  • 1 can whole tomatoes, undrained (796 mL)
  • 1 can tomato sauce (398 mL)
Cheese Filling
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 2 cups cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Method
 

Make the Meat Sauce
  1. In a Dutch oven, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes, stirring occasionally, and cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink.
  3. Add the whole tomatoes and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 25 minutes.
  4. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Make the Cheese Filling
  1. In a bowl, beat together the eggs, pepper, and nutmeg.
  2. Mix in the cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan until evenly combined.
Assemble the Lasagna (Single Cheese Layer)
  1. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Spread 1 cup of the meat sauce over the bottom.
  3. Add a single layer of noodles.
  4. Spread with half of the remaining meat sauce.
  5. Add all of the cheese filling in an even layer.
  6. Top with all of the spinach.
  7. Add another layer of noodles.
  8. Spread with the remaining meat sauce.
  9. Sprinkle the top with 2½ cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan.
Bake
  1. Cover loosely with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
  2. Uncover and bake for an additional 25 minutes.
  3. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.