Why You Will Love This High Protein Casserole
- Secretly Healthy: The cottage cheese adds a massive protein boost (24g per serving!) and creates a rich, creamy texture without needing heavy cream.
- Meal Prep Friendly: This reheats perfectly, making it an ideal high-protein breakfast or lunch for the entire week.
- Versatile: Serve it as a cheesy side dish for dinner, or add sausage or chicken to turn it into a complete "one-pan" meal.
- Sneaky Veggies: It’s loaded with 20 ounces of spinach, but the melted cheese makes it taste like pure comfort food.
What You Will Need:
- 2-10 oz bags of spinach
- 2 cups of cottage cheese
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 2 cups of shredded cheese of your choice
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup of flour (substitute ¼ cup of almond flour if desired)
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
Spinach in the Spinach Casserole Recipe
The Cheeses
Variations on the Spinach Casserole Recipe
I love adding quartered baby bella mushrooms to this dish. They add a nice texture to the dish! I have also added chicken, sausage, or shrimp on occasion to mix it up a bit. You can take this spinach casserole recipe in many different directions! This recipe goes great with my spiced baked ham recipe!
Please visit my sides and salads page for more ideas! Or try my spinach and artichoke pasta recipe for dinner!
FAQ's
You have two great options: use two 10-ounce bags of fresh spinach, wilting them in a pan with a little olive oil until tender, then straining well. Alternatively, you can use two 10-ounce packages of frozen spinach; just be sure to thaw and drain them thoroughly, pressing out as much moisture as possible.
Yes, absolutely! While the recipe calls for cottage cheese, ricotta cheese works as an excellent substitute if you don't have cottage cheese on hand. The texture and flavor will still be fantastic.
For the best melting and flavor, choose good melting cheeses like Monterey Jack, mozzarella, provolone, or Swiss. The final choice is up to your preference to make it your own!
Yes, this is a very versatile dish! Quartered baby bella mushrooms add a nice texture, and you can also incorporate cooked chicken, sausage, or shrimp to transform it into a more complete meal.
Looking for more cozy inspiration? Browse my full collection of Comfort Food Recipes to find your next family favorite.
Recipe
High Protein Spinach Casserole (with Cottage Cheese)
Ingredients
- 2 - 10 ounce bags of fresh spinach wilted in a skillet with two tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 cups of creamy cottage cheese
- 3 tablespoons of butter cut into ½ inch pieces
- 2 cups of shredded cheese of your choice
- 3 eggs beaten
- ¼ cup of flour (substitute ¼ cup of almond flour if desired)
- ½ teaspoon of sea salt
Method
- If using fresh spinach: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted (about 3-5 minutes). Important: Place the wilted spinach in a colander and press down hard with a spoon to squeeze out excess liquid.
- In a large bowl, whisk the beaten eggs, melted butter, flour, and sea salt until smooth. Stir in the cottage cheese.
- Add the drained spinach and 1.5 cups of the shredded cheese (reserve ½ cup for the topping) to the bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded cheese on top. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 35 minutes, or until the edges are bubbly and golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving to set.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.