High-Protein Veggie Bake with Cottage Cheese Recipe
This High-Protein Veggie Bake with Cottage Cheese is a nutritious and flavorful casserole packed with fresh vegetables and a creamy cottage cheese base. Perfect for a healthy breakfast, brunch, or light dinner, it combines protein-rich ingredients with vibrant veggies, baked to golden perfection with a crispy mozzarella topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 1 cup broccoli florets, chopped
- 1 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup zucchini, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion, finely chopped
Dairy & Eggs
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 eggs
Seasonings & Oils
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
- Cooking spray or a small amount of additional olive oil for greasing the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking the casserole evenly.
- Prepare Baking Dish: Lightly grease a baking dish using cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil to prevent the bake from sticking and to help with easy serving.
- Combine Vegetables and Cottage Cheese: In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped broccoli, diced bell pepper, sliced zucchini, halved cherry tomatoes, chopped spinach, finely chopped red onion, and cottage cheese. Mix these ingredients together to distribute the veggies evenly.
- Whisk Egg Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and dried oregano until fully combined, creating a flavorful egg base for the bake.
- Mix Egg and Vegetable Mixtures: Pour the egg mixture over the vegetable and cottage cheese mixture. Stir thoroughly until every piece is coated evenly, ensuring the flavors blend well and the bake holds together.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly to create a uniform layer for even cooking.
- Add Mozzarella Topping: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the surface of the vegetable mixture. This will melt and brown during baking, adding a delicious crust.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese turns golden brown and the center of the bake is fully set and firm to the touch.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the dish from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing and serving to make it easier to cut and enjoy.
Notes
- You can substitute the mozzarella with cheddar or your favorite melting cheese if preferred.
- For extra flavor, add fresh herbs like basil or parsley before baking.
- This bake can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.
- To make this dish vegetarian, ensure the cheese and eggs align with your dietary needs; this recipe is already vegetarian.
- Feel free to add cooked chicken or turkey for more protein if desired.
Keywords: high protein, vegetable bake, cottage cheese, healthy casserole, vegetarian, baked veggies, protein-rich meal
