High Protein Lasagna is the ultimate comfort meal made healthier. Each layer is stacked with rich, slow-simmered beef mince, creamy blended cottage cheese sauce, and perfectly softened lasagne sheets. With 55g of protein per serving, it delivers all the indulgence of a classic lasagna while supporting your nutrition goals.
If you love hearty, high-protein dinners, you’ll also enjoy our Loaded Sweet Potatoes.
Lasagna
If you’re craving a hearty, high-protein dinner that delivers pure comfort without derailing your goals, this High Protein Lasagna is the perfect choice. Each layer brings something delicious to the table, a rich, savoury beef mince sauce, a smooth blended cottage cheese layer, and tender lasagne sheets baked together until golden and bubbling.
Think of it as a lighter, macro-friendly twist on the classic Italian favourite. The creamy cottage cheese sauce keeps the calories down while still giving you that indulgent, cheesy finish you expect from a proper lasagna.
This recipe makes six generous servings, making it ideal for family dinners or batch cooking for the week. Each portion boasts 55g of protein and 574 calories, giving you a balanced, satisfying meal that fuels your day and keeps you full for hours.
Why We Love this Recipe
- High in Protein: Each serving delivers 55g of protein, helping you stay full and support your fitness goals.
- Great for Meal Prep: It reheats perfectly, making it ideal for preparing ahead for the week.
- Comfort Food Done Better: You get all the classic lasagna flavour and satisfaction in a lighter, macro-friendly way.
What is High Protein Lasagna?
High Protein Lasagna is a lighter, protein-packed take on the traditional Italian classic. Instead of a heavy béchamel, the sauce uses blended low-fat cottage cheese and parmesan to create a creamy, high-protein layer that pairs perfectly with the rich beef mince.
The result is a comforting, flavourful lasagna with all the familiar layers you love, but with improved macros and a much higher protein content. It’s a satisfying, nutritious dish that works well for family dinners, weekly meal prep, or anyone wanting a healthier version of a comfort favourite.
Lasagna Nutrition
This High Protein Lasagna offers the perfect mix of comfort and balanced nutrition, giving you all the classic lasagna flavours in a lighter, more macro-friendly way. The combination of lean beef mince, blended cottage cheese, and hearty pasta creates a meal that’s rich, satisfying, and ideal for fuelling long days. Here’s the nutritional breakdown per serving:
Calories: 574
Protein: 55g
Carbs: 58g
Fat: 14g
Ingredients
- Beef Mince (5% fat): Forms the hearty, high-protein base of the dish while keeping the fat content low.
- Cottage Cheese: Blended to create a smooth, creamy, high-protein alternative to traditional béchamel sauce.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds a rich, salty depth that enhances the cheesiness of every layer.
- Cheddar Cheese (30% reduced-fat): Melts beautifully on top, giving the lasagna its classic golden finish.
- Lasagne Sheets: Create the traditional layered structure that makes lasagna so satisfying.
- Chopped Tomatoes: Provide the foundation of the beef sauce with a rich tomato flavour.
- Carrots: Add natural sweetness and extra nutrients while bulking out the sauce.
- Onion & Garlic: Bring aromatic depth and the essential savoury base to the mince mixture.
- Seasonings: Work together to balance the richness of the meat and cheese, giving the lasagna its classic Italian flavour.
- Worcester Sauce: Adds tanginess and depth, enhancing the savoury notes of the beef.
- Ketchup: Provides a subtle sweetness and acidity to round out the sauce.
How to Make Lasagna
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
To start, we blend the cottage cheese, parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until completely smooth. This creates a lighter, protein-packed cheese sauce that spreads beautifully between the layers. Blending also gives the lasagna that creamy texture you’d normally get from a traditional béchamel.
Next, we build the beef sauce. In a large pan, we cook the onion and garlic until softened, then add the beef mince, breaking it apart as it browns. Once the meat is cooked, we stir in the carrots, chopped tomatoes, Worcester sauce, ketchup, beef stock, and seasoning. Letting it simmer for a few minutes helps the flavours deepen and the sauce thicken slightly.
Now it’s time to assemble. We spread a thin layer of the beef sauce across the bottom of the baking dish, then add lasagne sheets to create our first layer. A generous spoonful of the blended cheese sauce goes next. We repeat these layers until everything is used, making sure to finish with the cheese sauce on top for that classic creamy finish.
Finally, we sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese over the top layer and bake until golden, bubbling, and slightly crisp around the edges. Once it’s done, we let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes, this keeps the layers neat and makes slicing much easier.
Tips
- Blend the cheese sauce until completely smooth. This gives you a creamy, béchamel-like texture without the extra calories.
- Let the beef sauce simmer. A few extra minutes helps the flavours deepen and makes the sauce richer.
- Rest the lasagna before slicing. Allowing it to sit for 10 minutes helps the layers hold together.
- Use oven-ready lasagne sheets. They save time and absorb the sauce well as they bake.
- Grate your own cheese. It melts more evenly than pre-grated cheese and gives a better finish.
- Check your layers for even spread. Keeping the sauce layers consistent helps the lasagna cook evenly throughout.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
- Swap the beef mince: Use turkey mince or chicken mince for an even leaner and lighter lasagna.
- Use different cheeses: Replace cheddar with mozzarella for a stretchier top or add a little ricotta to the cheese layer if you want it richer.
- Add extra vegetables: Celery, spinach, courgette or mushrooms can be mixed into the beef sauce to increase the volume, flavour and nutritional value.
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free lasagne sheets and ensure your seasonings are gluten-free.
Storage
This lasagna stores very well, making it ideal for meal prep. Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, warm it in the microwave or oven until piping hot throughout. If you want to freeze it, portion it into containers and freeze for up to 2 months, then thaw in the fridge before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can assemble it fully, cover it and keep it in the fridge for 24 hours before baking. This actually helps the flavours develop and makes the layers even better.
If the cottage cheese is not blended long enough, it can stay slightly lumpy. Blend it until completely smooth for the best texture, and add a tablespoon of milk if you need to loosen it.
Make sure each sheet is fully covered with either meat sauce or cheese sauce. Any exposed areas tend to dry out and become firm during baking.
More High Protein Dinner Recipes
After you try this Lasagna Recipe, let us know your thoughts! Follow us on Instagram for more high protein, low calorie recipe ideas.
Lasagna
Equipment
- 1 Large Frying Pan
- 1 Wooden Spoon
- 1 Garlic Crusher
- 1 Sharp Knife
- 1 Baking dish
- Chopping Board
- Blender
Ingredients
Cheese Sauce
- 50 g Parmesan Cheese (grated)
- 400 g Low Fat Cottage Cheese
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian Herb Seasoning
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
Mince
- 1 kg 5% Fat Free Beef Mince
- 1 medium Onion diced
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tin Chopped Tomatoes
- 2 Carrots chopped
- 30 ml Worcester Sauce
- 100 g Tomato Ketchup
- Low-calorie Cooking Spray
Seasoning
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian Herb Seasoning
- 1 tbsp All Purpose Seasoning
- 1 tbsp Oregano
- 1 cube Beef Stock
Topping
- 300 g Lasagne Sheets (6–8 sheets)
- 50 g 30% Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese (grated)
Instructions
Make the Cheese Sauce
- Add the cottage cheese, parmesan, salt, pepper, Italian herb seasoning, and garlic powder to a blender.
- Blend until completely smooth and creamy then transfer and set aside.
Cook the Mince
- Heat a frying pan and spray lightly with low-calorie cooking spray and add the onion and garlic and cook until softened.
- Stir in the beef mince, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until browned.
- Add the oregano, all purpose seasoning, Worcester sauce, pepper, ketchup, diced carrots, chopped tomatoes, and crumbled beef stock cube.
- Simmer for 10–15 minutes until thickened and rich.
Assemble the Lasagna
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Spread a thin layer of the mince sauce across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Add a layer of lasagne sheets, followed by a layer of cheese sauce.
- Repeat the layers, finishing with cheese sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the grated cheddar evenly over the surface.
- Bake for 30 minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
- Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and enjoy!
Notes
RECIPE NOTES
- If your cheese sauce seems too thick, blend in 1–2 tbsp of milk.
- Allowing the mince sauce to simmer longer develops deeper flavour.
- This recipe yields 6 servings.
- Use oven-ready lasagne sheets for convenience, or pre-boil fresh sheets.
