Cream Cheese Lasagna

When I make a traditional lasagna I always make it with ricotta cheese because I feel that is what a traditional lasagna is made with. I have heard of it being made with cottage cheese, but have not made one yet. Although, I think I need to add that to my list of recipes to make. But I have never heard of lasagna made with cream cheese.

Turns out lasagna made with cream cheese is just as good as lasagna made with ricotta cheese. So now when someone requests lasagna for dinner, I am going to have a hard time deciding which lasagna to make, cream cheese or ricotta cheese.

Cream Cheese Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
• 1 yellow onion, finely diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 29 ounces no salt added tomato sauce
• 14.5 ounces Italian diced tomatoes
• 6 ounces no salt added tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 9 lasagna noodles
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 2 cups provolone cheese, shredded
• 8 ounces cream cheese, diced into small chunks

Directions:

1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, cook the ground turkey and onion until the meat is completely cooked and crumbled. Drain any grease.
2. Add in the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute.
3. Stir in the tomato sauce, Italian diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning, sugar and black pepper.
4. Bring the mixture to a low boil, reduce the heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.
5. While the sauce is simmering, boil the lasagna noodles according the the package directions. When the noodles are done cooking, drain the water and place a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper on the counter and place the noodles on top to cool. Do not let the noodles touch or they will stick together.
6. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray.
7. Pour 1 cup of sauce into the bottom of the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
8. Place 3 lasagna noodles on top of the sauce followed by 1/3 of the cream cheese chunks, 1/3 of mozzarella cheese and provolone cheese. Top with a 1/3 of the remaining sauce.
9. Repeat the layers one more time.
10. For the last layer, place down the 3 remaining noodles followed by the remaining cream cheese and then the remaining sauce. Top with the remaining mozzarella and provolone cheese.
11. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and cook for 45 minutes.
12. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
13. Remove the lasagna from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!!!

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount Per Serving
Calories 599
Total Fat		31.3g
Saturated Fat		17.3g
Polyunsaturated Fat		0.4g
Monounsaturated Fat		2.4g
Trans Fat		0g
Cholesterol		114.6mg
Sodium		595.7mg
Potassium		901.7mg
Total Carbohydrates		45.2g
Dietary Fiber		10.1g
Sugars		10.3g
Protein		39.4g
Vitamin A 29.3% Vitamin C 19.47%
Calcium 86.41% Iron 109.58%
*Nutritional information will vary depending on the brands you use.

*Adapted from Together As A Family.