Make this High Protein Lazy Lasagna for an easy weeknight dinner that gets all of the flavors of lasagna without the tedious work of layering. Swap some of the standard lasagna ingredients for high protein options that bring the amount of protein up to 41g per serving.
Quick
One-pan
You’ll Learn: The trick to fluffy, tender texture without overmixing
Worth It: It’s a satisfying, protein-forward option that actually keeps you full
Bonus: Easy flavor twists
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- One pan meal – Nothing is better for an easy dinner than a one pan meal! It’s easy to make and easy to clean up after dinner.
- Lasagna without the work – I love a lasagna, but I often don’t want to spend all the time prepping it, so this shortcut gets you all the flavors without the work! No need to cook the noodles or make the layers.
- High protein hack – Use whipped cottage cheese instead of ricotta for extra protein. It adds tons of creaminess and protein alongside the turkey.
Serving suggestions
This lazy lasagna recipe is great on its own because it’s packed with protein and veggies. If you’d like to add some greens on the side, I love making a quick salad with mason jar dressing. Air fryer asparagus or air fryer brussels sprouts are also great options for a quick and easy side.
Ingredients and Ingredient Substitutions
- Extra virgin olive oil – I use olive oil to sauté the veggies, but you could use any neutral oil as well.
- Zucchini – I find that zucchini blends in with the turkey perfectly, but you can also substitute spinach or other green veggies. You could even add some diced onion.
- Ground turkey – I chose lean ground turkey for a high protein meat, but feel free to use another ground meat if you prefer. You can use ground chicken, ground pork, ground beef or even a plant based meat substitute, but know that this change will affect the amount of protein.
- Kosher salt and black pepper – all of the flavor comes from the sauce, so a bit of salt and pepper just helps to season the meat and vegetables. You can also add more to each serving after cooking.
- Cottage cheese – the cottage cheese adds a ton of extra protein to your lasagna, but you can substitute ricotta cheese instead if you like it better. Be sure to whip your cottage cheese for the proper texture!
- Marinara sauce – use your favorite marinara to bring the lasagna together. We sometimes use a spicy sauce or vodka sauce to change up the flavor.
- No boil lasagna noodles – to keep this dish as easy as possible, use no boil noodles. If you need to use regular lasagna noodles or another type of pasta, be sure to cook in salted boiling water before assembling the casserole.
- Mozzarella cheese – you can use pre shredded mozzarella or shred your own. I use a part skim mozzarella for higher protein.
How to make
Step 1: Saute Vegetables and Meat
Preheat oven. Add oil to a large oven safe skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add finely diced zucchini to the pan and saute.
Push the zucchini to the side of the pan and add just a splash more oil if needed. Add ground turkey to the pan and crumble as it browns. Saute and mix the turkey and zucchini together. Season with kosher salt and black pepper.
Step 2: Add Sauce
Blend cottage cheese until smooth with an immersion blender.
Reduce the heat to low and pour the marinara sauce into the skillet and toss. Take no boil lasagna noodles and break into bite size pieces as you mix them into the skillet. Mix one noodle into the sauce at a time to prevent clumping.
Step 3: Add Cheese and Bake
When all of the noodles are mixed in, remove the skillet from the heat. Dollop the blended cottage cheese over top and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over top.
Cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bake. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. You can broil for a few minutes at the end to really brown the cheese if desired.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat your high protein lasagna in the microwave or oven until warmed through.
Check out these Other high Protein Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
High Protein Lazy Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 zucchini finely diced
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 16 oz container cottage cheese (2 cups)
- 25 oz jar marinara sauce
- 6 oz no boil lasagna noodles
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F. Add 1 tbsp oil to a large oven safe skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot add finely diced zucchini to the pan and saute for about 5 minutes.
- Push the zucchini to the side of the pan and add just a splash more oil if needed. Add the 1 lb ground turkey to the pan and crumble as it browns. Saute for about 5 minutes. Mix the turkey and zucchini together and season with 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Blend 2 cups cottage cheese until smooth with an immersion blender
- Reduce the heat to low and pour the 25oz jar marinara sauce into the skillet and toss with the turkey zucchini. Take 6oz no boil lasagna noodles and break into bite size pieces as you mix them into the skillet. Mix one noodle into the sauce at a time to prevent clumping.
- When all of the noodles are mixed in, remove the skillet from the heat. Dollop the blended cottage cheese over top and spread into an even layer. Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese over top.
- Cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bake at 375F for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. You can broil for a few minutes at the end to really brown the cheese if desired.
Recipe Notes
- If you can’t find no boil lasagna noodles, you can use standard lasagna noodles or any type of noodle, but be sure to cook the pasta in salted water before assembling the lasagna.
- Feel free to use another type of green veggie like spinach in place of the zucchini
- You can use ricotta cheese in place of the whipped cottage cheese, but this will affect the amount of protein per serving.
- Feel free to use a different type of ground meat. You can use ground chicken, ground pork or ground beef, but again this will change the amount of protein per serving.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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