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Baked Spaghetti With Cottage Cheese

Baked Spaghetti With Cottage Cheese Recipe

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 16 oz dried spaghetti
  • 24 oz jar marinara sauce (about 3 cups)
  • 16 oz full-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook spaghetti just shy of al dente, drain, and toss with 1/2 cup of the marinara.
  2. Mix cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until smooth.
  3. Spread a thin layer of marinara in a 9x13-inch dish. Layer half the spaghetti, half the cottage cheese mixture, and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat with remaining spaghetti, the rest of the marinara, remaining cottage cheese mixture, and the last cup of mozzarella.
  4. Bake 25 minutes until bubbly and golden. If desired, broil 2 to 3 minutes for a browned top.
  5. Let the casserole rest 5 minutes, then slice into 8 squares and serve with fresh basil or extra Parmesan.

Notes

Letting the dish rest before slicing is key to getting clean squares that hold together. For a richer filling, you can swap half the cottage cheese for ricotta. The broil step is optional, but it gives the top that irresistible crunchy-cheesy finish.