Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole
Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole is loaded with lean beef, high-protein pasta, and creamy cottage cheese, all blanketed in marinara and melted Italian cheeses. The edges turn crisp and cheesy while the center stays tender and saucy, offering a comforting balance of textures. Serve it for a weeknight family dinner or a casual gathering when you want something hearty and satisfying.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves6
- DifficultyEasy
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 57 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 23 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 53 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 28
- Heart Health
- 86
- Metabolic
- 55
- Digestive
- 26
- Inflammatory
- 50
- Performance
- 42
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil.
- 2
Cook the meat in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the fat renders and the meat is browned and crumbled. Add the onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, and cook until softened.
- 3
Stir in the sauce and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- 4
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta until slightly firm, following the package directions. Drain and stir the pasta into the sauce. Spread the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet.
- 5
Stir the cottage cheese and 1 cup Italian cheese together with the remaining salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Dollop the cheese mixture over the pasta mixture and sprinkle the remaining Italian cheese over the top.
- 6
Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly and lightly browned and crisp around the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Calories 966.83 kcal High 48%
- Protein 65.01 g Good Source 130%
- Carbohydrate 72.16 g 26%
- Total Fat 46.75 g High 60%
- Saturated Fat 23.15 g High 116%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 160.52 mg High 54%
- Sodium 2029.52 mg High 88%
- Dietary Fiber 14.74 g Good Source 53%
- Total Sugars 9.16 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 890.7 mg Good Source 69%
- Iron 3.87 mg Good Source 22%
- Potassium 570.87 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 0.3 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 1.11 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Protein Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole is an Italian dinner recipe made with 10 ingredients. It takes about 1 hr, serves 6, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cottage Cheese, Diced Yellow Onion, and Fresh Parsley. Each serving provides about 966.83 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole?
- It is an Italian casserole recipe made with 10 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cottage Cheese, Diced Yellow Onion, Fresh Parsley, Garlic Powder. The full list of 10 is above.
- What goes well with Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole?
- Explore these Italian side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole?
- About 1 hr in total: 15 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 966.83 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 10 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole healthy?
- Protein-Packed Sheet Pan Pasta Casserole has an easyChef Pro health score of 47/100. Per serving, it provides 966.83 calories and 65.01 g of protein, or 130% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 2029.52 mg (88% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 23.15 g (116% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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