Description
This super EASY cottage cheese pasta bake is made with tomato sauce, broccoli, spinach, and protein-packed cottage cheese. It’s creamy on the inside, with a layer of crispy melted cheese and penne pasta on the top. Perfect for a healthy, vegetarian dinner for the whole family!
Ingredients
- 3 cups penne pasta, dry (or other short pasta shape)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 4 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups broccoli florets (about 5 ounces or 142 grams)
- 3 cups baby spinach (tightly packed)
- 2 cups cottage cheese, 2% MF (500 gram or 17 ounce container)
- 2 cups marinara (or other tomato sauce)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 5 large leaves fresh basil, chopped (to garnish)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. While you wait, chop the broccoli into florets and mince the garlic.
2. Cook pasta to al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and broccoli florets, and sauté for about 7 minutes.
4. Add baby spinach to the pan and cook until wilted. Remove from heat.
5. In a large baking dish, combine cooked pasta, sautéed vegetables, cottage cheese, and marinara sauce. Season generously with salt and pepper. Stir until well combined.
6. Top the mixture with shredded mozzarella, spreading evenly across the surface.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the top is melted and golden brown.
8. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and serve hot.
Notes
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–5 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave as needed.
You can substitute penne with other short pasta like rigatoni or farfalle. For gluten-free, use certified gluten-free pasta.
Swap broccoli with chopped zucchini or bell peppers, and use kale instead of spinach if desired.
Mozzarella can be replaced with any other cheese that melts well, such as cheddar.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian, Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 35mg