Description

This Easy Lasagna Casserole is a comforting and straightforward twist on traditional lasagna, perfect for weeknight dinners. Featuring rotini pasta, a savory ground beef and onion mix combined with creamy cottage cheese, all layered with rich pasta sauce and topped with melted mozzarella, this dish comes together quickly and bakes into a cheesy, hearty casserole everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastas and Cheeses

2 cups rotini pasta
1 cup cottage cheese
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

Meat and Vegetables

1 pound ground beef
1 large sweet onion, diced

Others

24 ounces pasta sauce
Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Cook the Ground Beef and Onion: In a skillet over medium heat, fry the ground beef along with the diced sweet onion until the beef is fully browned and the onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Boil the Pasta: Meanwhile, cook 2 cups of rotini pasta in boiling salted water according to package instructions until al dente, then drain well.
Combine Cottage Cheese with Meat Mixture: Add 1 cup of cottage cheese to the cooked ground beef and onion mixture, stirring thoroughly to evenly incorporate the cheese.
Add Pasta Sauce: Pour 24 ounces of pasta sauce over the cottage cheese and meat mixture. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
Mix in Cooked Pasta: Stir the cooked rotini pasta into the meat, cheese, and sauce mixture until everything is evenly distributed.
Assemble in Casserole Dish: Grease a 10 x 15-inch casserole dish, then scoop the entire pasta mixture into the dish, spreading it out evenly.
Top with Mozzarella Cheese: Sprinkle 8 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.
Bake the Casserole: Place the casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly.

Notes

For extra flavor, add Italian seasoning or garlic powder to the meat while cooking.
Using low-fat cottage cheese can reduce the total fat content in the dish.
Be sure not to overcook the pasta to maintain a good texture in the casserole.
This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: easy lasagna casserole, ground beef casserole, baked pasta dish, quick lasagna recipe, comfort food