🍝💰 High-Protein Million Dollar Lasagna
🥄 Ingredients (6–8 servings)
Meat Sauce:
- 500g lean ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
- 1 cup tomato sauce (low sugar)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tsp salt, pepper, Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
Creamy “Million Dollar” Layer:
- 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (or ricotta)
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup light cream cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 1 scoop unflavored protein powder (optional but powerful boost)
Layers:
- 8–10 lasagna sheets (use whole wheat or high-protein pasta if possible)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella (part-skim preferred)
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make meat sauce
- Cook onion and garlic in a pan.
- Add ground meat, cook until browned.
- Stir in tomato sauce, paste, and spices.
- Simmer 10–15 minutes until thick.
2. Make creamy layer
- Mix cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, cream cheese, egg, parmesan, and protein powder until smooth.
3. Assemble
In a baking dish:
- Thin layer of meat sauce
- Lasagna sheets
- Creamy layer
- Meat sauce
- Repeat layers
Finish with mozzarella on top.
4. Bake
- Cover with foil, bake at 180°C (350°F) for 25 minutes
- Remove foil, bake another 10–15 minutes until golden
5. Rest
- Let sit 10–15 minutes before slicing (important for structure)
💪 Protein (approx per serving)
- ~30–45g protein (depending on meat + protein powder)
🔥 Tips for “Million Dollar” Taste
- Blend cottage cheese for smoother ricotta-like texture
- Use a mix of beef + turkey for flavor + lean protein
- Don’t skip resting time—it sets perfectly
- Add a little extra parmesan on top for a golden crust
