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With jumbled up ‘layers’ of lean ground beef, curly lasagna noodles, vegetables, and cheese it’s a hearty and wholesome meal the entire family will love.

Prep: 15 minutesCook: 30 minutesTotal: 45 minutes
Servings: Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon avocado oil or olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef (we use 90-93%)
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced small (¼-inch)
  • 1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced small  (¼-inch)
  • 1 small onion, diced small  (¼-inch)
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce of your choice
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 ½ cup water
  • 8 ounces uncooked lasagna noodles*, broken into small pieces (gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 cup cottage cheese, lightly drained if there is a lot of liquid (may substitute part-skim ricotta cheese)
  • 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (1 ½ cups), divided
  • Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place a 12-inch skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the oil, ground beef, zucchini, bell pepper, onions, and garlic. Use a spoon or spatula to break up the meat and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until onions and peppers start to soften and beef is almost cooked through. Drain excess fat if there is quite a bit in the pan. 
  2. Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, and water to the skillet with the meat and veggie mixture and bring to a boil. 
  3. Add the broken lasagna noodles and stir. Reduce heat to low and place the lid on the skillet. 
  4. Cook for 25-30 minutes, stirring every 5-7 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. 
  5. Remove the lid and stir in the cottage cheese and ¾ cup mozzarella cheese. Stir and cook for an additional 5 minutes uncovered.  
  6. Sprinkle with remaining ¾ cup mozzarella cheese. Remove the skillet from the heat and allow it to stand, covered, for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken. Broil for 3-4 minutes, if desired, to crisp up the cheese then garnish with chopped fresh basil, if desired. 

Notes

*Do not use ‘no-boil’ type noodles. They will become too soft. 

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1/6 recipe
  • Calories: 425
  • Fat: 16 g
  • (Sat Fat: 6 g)
  • Sodium: 750 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 43 g
  • (Fiber: 3 g
  • Sugar: 6 g)
  • Protein: 31 g

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Jessica Beacom