Cheesy lasagna, but make it healthy. Enjoy this viral recipe for lazy high protein lasagna (no chopping, no layering) for a high-protein dinner that satisfies.
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If you’re craving a big, cheesy plate of lasagna that doesn’t leave you needing a nap, this high protein lasagna is a must. Not only is this recipe calorie-balanced and high in protein, it’s also incredibly easy to make.
This lazy lasagna recipe requires no fuss and no layering of lasagna noodles, but it’s just as tasty and satisfying as the real deal. Scroll down to learn how to make this nutritious high-protein lasagna with cottage cheese, and a few tips for success. I’ll also share some side dish ideas so you can maximize nutrition with this simple dinner.
Looking for more high protein dinners? Try my high protein chili, high protein tomato soup, crispy beef tacos, or high protein minestrone.
Why you’ll love this dietitian-made recipe
- High protein and nutritious: 36 grams of protein per serving and plenty of micronutrients from nourishing ingredients, this high protein lasagna can help keep you full and support fitness goals.
- No chopping or layering: Get all the satisfaction of a hearty lasagna without all the fuss.
- Cheesy and delish: You would never know this creamy lasagna recipe featured cottage cheese to maximize protein and minimize calories. It tastes that good.
Ingredients and swaps
Scroll down to the recipe card for the detailed recipe and full ingredients list.
- Mild Italian sausage: If possible, use lean turkey or chicken Italian sausage — this will give you the most protein, with the least fat and calories. If you need to use regular pork sausage, just drain the fat. To make life easier, buy sausage meat already out of the casing. Or, remove it yourself!
- Jarred marinara sauce: The size of the jar doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s somewhere between 650-750 ml each. I like the flavor of Rao’s best, but you can use your favorite marinara for this. Make sure you’re using marinara, and not simply crushed or canned tomatoes.
- Oven-ready lasagna noodles: Look for lasagna noodles marked as “oven ready” so you don’t have to boil them in advance of assembly. You could use any protein or fiber-rich lasagna noodle if preferred.
- Baby spinach: Chop this if you want to, but you don’t have to.
- Low fat cottage cheese: This is where the majority of our protein boost comes from. Cottage cheese makes this high-protein lasagna so rich and creamy, too. I use 2% fat, but feel free to use what you prefer. I wouldn’t recommend fat-free cottage cheese.
- Parmesan cheese: You can grate this yourself or buy it pre-grated.
- Mozzarella: Buy this pre-grated, or shred it yourself.
- Italian seasoning: This helps add some flavor to the cottage cheese. Don’t skip it!
- Egg: This will help hold the cheese mixture together in your lazy lasagna.
Make it easier
- Buy sausage meat that’s not in casing
- Don’t chop your baby spinach
- Use pre-grated cheeses
How to make lazy high protein lasagna
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for cheese mixture.
Step 2: Heat a large pot to medium. Add sausage meat. Brown and crumble with a spatula until minimal pink remains and drain excess fat.
Step 3: Reduce heat to medium-low. Add sauce, cover, and let simmer for 10-minutes.
Step 4: Add spinach and mix until wilted.
Step 5: Break up your lasagna noodles into 2-3-inch chunks and stir into sauce.
Step 6: Pour this into your pan. Gently spread the mixture throughout the pan and make sure noodles are submerged under sauce.
Step 7: Dollop cheese mixture throughout the pan. Sprinkle with extra mozzarella if desired.
Step 8: Cover with tin foil and bake for 30-minutes at 350 F. Remove tin foil, and bake for another 10 minutes. Finish under broiler.
Dietary restrictions
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free lasagna noodles (you may have to cooke these in advance).
- Higher fiber: Use a higher fiber pasta noodle like chickpea or lentil, but you may need to boil these before assembling your lasagna.
- Low sodium: Choose a low sodium marinara sauce. And if possible, try to find a lower sodium cottage cheese.
- Higher protein: Add an extra half-pound of turkey or chicken sausage.
What to serve with my lazy lasagna recipe
You can serve this recipe with any vegetables you love. Here are some ideas:
- Steamed green beans
- Roasted broccoli and cauliflower
- Grilled zucchini and eggplant
- Sauteed pepper and onions (buy these frozen to make life easier)
- Air fried Brussels sprouts (also great from frozen)
- Pre-made salad kit
- Garden salad
- Greek salad
More balanced dinner recipes
One-pan chicken sausage orzo
Healthy orange chicken recipe
Pesto chicken and rice
Philly cheesesteak pasta
Healthier hamburger helper
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Lazy High Protein Lasagna
Equipment
- large sauté pan or pot
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage meat (removed from casing), use chicken or turkey sausage if possible
- 2 jars marinara sauce, 660-750 ml each, I use Rao's marinara
- ½ package uncooked oven-ready lasagna noodles
- 3 big handfuls baby spinach, chopped if desired
Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups low fat cottage cheese, I use 2%
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus more for topping if desired
- 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Position oven rack to the middle and preheat to 350 F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for cheese mixture. Set aside.
- Heat your large pan or pot to medium. Add sausage meat. Brown and crumble with a spatula until minimal pink remains. Drain excess fat.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add sauce, cover, and let simmer for 10-minutes.
- Add spinach and mix until wilted.
- Break up your lasagna noodles into 2-3-inch chunks and stir into sauce. Make sure you're only using half the package.
- Pour this into your baking dish. Gently spread the mixture throughout and make sure noodles are submerged under sauce.
- Dollop cheese mixture throughout the baking dish. Sprinkle with extra mozzarella if desired.
- Cover with tin foil and bake for 30-minutes. Remove tin foil, and bake for another 10 minutes or until cheese is bubbling and noodles are cooked through. Finish under broiler for 2-5 minutes to brown the cheese, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Let it rest for 10-minutes before eating. Serve with extra parmesan and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is my second time with making this recipe. It is delicious and I like that I can freeze it into portions. Instead of fresh spinach I use a whole package of chopped and squeezed out spinach- so it is as dry as possible. It is also company friendly. Also, in Canada, where I live the Rao’s marinera sauce is close to $10 a jar. In it’s place I used a jar of President choice for $3.50 and the Classico brand of sauce called Italian Sausage, pepper and onion for $3.73 a jar. I also doubled the recipe, so for two recipes I used four 600 ml jars of Classico and one pf the President Choice.
What could I replace the sausage with to make this vegetarian?
I would recommend using a veggie-based Italian sausage! If you can’t find that, you could also use canned lentils (drained and rinsed) with Italian seasoning, although I haven’t tested this option for the right amount of seasoning. Hope you enjoy!
I really wish your nutritional facts contained a serving size amount so that way we know how much would be 468calories, love that you add it but I’m on a deficit so I need to know 😭
Thank you for your feedback, Kimberly!! I will absolutely take that to heart and work on adding more accurate serving size info in the future. In the meantime, this nutrition information is for 1/6 of the tray — hope that helps!
So delicious and so easy! It’s on a weekly rotation at my house now
Made this for Sunday night dinner and I’ve been enjoying it as leftovers the past two days. It’s really, really good. Even my kids ate it, which is very, very unusual. So, this is a WIN!!!
Was easy to make, I felt satisfied from the high protein and my husband enjoyed it.
One of my favorite dinner recipes EVER made — and my husband loves it too!
So good I’ve made it twice! The first with pork sausage and the second time with turkey. The topping is my favourite, I’ll probably increase it for the next time I make. This was also a huge hit with my 9.5 month old (she loves pasta, and honestly same). The noodles were easy for her to pick up and with spinach (finely cut) and turkey, lots of iron for her!
What an incredible review from both of you!! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. So glad you liked it!
Could I swap for ground beef?
Yes but I would highly recommend adding extra Italian seasoning right to the meat if you do! The sausage seasoning adds a lot of flavor.
Just made this tonight and it is delicious!! And so easy, will definitely be making it again