Cottage Cheese Ground Beef Casserole (Printable)
Savory layers of browned beef, cottage cheese and sweet potatoes topped with mozzarella for a cozy gluten-free meal.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 pound lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium onion, chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 cup baby spinach (optional)
→ Dairy
06 - 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
07 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
09 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
10 - 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
13 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Place the diced sweet potatoes in a medium pot of salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until just tender, about 8-10 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
04 - Add the lean ground beef to the skillet, cooking until fully browned. Break the meat apart with a spoon as it cooks, 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in the drained diced tomatoes, dried oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Fold in the baby spinach and cook until just wilted, if using.
06 - Spread half of the parboiled sweet potatoes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
07 - Spoon the seasoned ground beef mixture over the sweet potato layer, distributing it in an even layer.
08 - Dollop the cottage cheese over the beef layer and spread it gently into an even coating.
09 - Arrange the remaining sweet potatoes over the cottage cheese layer. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan evenly across the top.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
11 - Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
# Helpful Tips:
01 -
- The cottage cheese melts into the layers and creates a creamy texture without needing a heavy sauce.
- Sweet potatoes add natural sweetness that balances the savory seasoned beef beautifully.
- It is gluten free by default so you dont have to modify a thing for friends who need it.
02 -
- Under cooking the sweet potatoes during boiling is better than overcooking them because they will soften further in the oven.
- Draining the canned tomatoes thoroughly is the single biggest factor in avoiding a soupy casserole.
03 -
- Letting the casserole rest the full five minutes is not optional because it holds together beautifully when you serve it.
- Shredding your own mozzarella instead of using bagged cheese makes the golden bubbly top dramatically better.