High-Protein Million Dollar Baked Spaghetti

Serves 6 · 25 min prep · 45 min cook

Ingredients

• 12 oz whole-wheat spaghetti
• 1 1/2 lb lean ground turkey (93% lean)
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups part-skim mozzarella, shredded
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. 2Cook the spaghetti until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions, then drain well. Slightly undercooking keeps the pasta from turning mushy after baking.
3. 3Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook 4 to 5 minutes until translucent and lightly golden at the edges.
4. 4Add ground turkey, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook 7 to 8 minutes until no pink remains and the meat browns in spots. Stir in garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. 5Pour in the marinara and simmer 5 minutes so the sauce thickens slightly and coats the meat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
6. 6In a bowl, stir cottage cheese, ricotta, egg, half the Parmesan, and half the mozzarella until creamy and combined. This high-protein cheese layer is the million-dollar swap.
7. 7Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the baking dish. Add half the drained spaghetti, then all of the cheese mixture in an even layer. Top with remaining spaghetti and the rest of the meat sauce.
8. 8Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the top. Cover loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes.
9. 9Remove the foil and bake another 12 to 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and spotted golden brown.
10. 10Rest 10 minutes so slices hold together. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot as a hearty weeknight bake.