This is my husband’s favorite dish. It is simple and inexpensive, so I’m fine with that. I found it in my good old family cookbook. I usually like to beef it up and add a full 1 lb of ground beef or ground turkey. Either way it is great!
Poor Man’s Lasagna
- 8 oz penne pasta
- 1/2 lb ground beef or ground turkey (I often use 1 lb.)
- 16 oz cottage cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce (24 oz)
- shredded cheese
Boil the pasta according to instructions on packaging. Drain the pasta and return it to the pan. While the pasta is still warm, I like to add the cream cheese and cottage cheese to the pan with the pasta. Stir together until well mixed.
Brown the ground meat. I usually add a little Italian seasoning . Drain the meat.
Layer a 9×13 pan with pasta mixture, meat, and pasta sauce. Repeat. Add shredded cheddar cheese on top. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.
If there are a lot of leftovers, I often freeze them for a later time. You could also freeze it before baking and it would make a great freezer meal.
More lasagna recipes we’ve posted about:
- Skillet Lasagna
- Lasagna Soup
- Lasagna Cupcakes
- Zucchini Lasagna
- Garlic Toasted Open Faced Lasagna Ciabattas
- Pepperoni Lasagna Roll-Ups
- Lasagna and My Frugal Lasagna
About Melanie
It all began on October 8th, 2008. Cathy and Monica started this coupon blog to help friends and family learn about their new money saving hobby couponing! Since then they have taught thousands of women (and men) 
Thank you for sharing this. I can’t wait to try this. It looks yummy
I cooked this dish last night. It was delicious! My daughter loved this as well! Great recipe. It was very inexpensive (used stockpile supply) and we have leftovers for tonight.
Glad to hear you like it too!
I just need cottage cheese … but I can splurge for that cheesy goodness up there! Thanks Melanie!
I made this for dinner- packaged half for another time. Hubby loved it! A great pantry fave!