Cottage Cheese Perogie Casserole

Fill a large pot with water that has been lightly seasoned with salt, then place it on the stovetop and bring to a vigorous boil. As soon as the water reaches its boiling point, gently add lasagna noodles 3 or 4 at a time, stirring constantly to prevent them from sticking together. Return the pot to its boiling state and cook the noodles, uncovered and with occasional stirring, until they are cooked through but still retain some firmness in the center, approximately 10 minutes per batch. Remove the noodles from the water with a colander and drain them thoroughly in the sink.

While the noodles are cooking, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Grease a 9x11-inch baking dish with some cooking spray or oil to prevent the casserole from sticking.

Place potatoes in a large pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and let the potatoes cook until they are tender, about 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and allow them to steam dry for a minute or two before mashing them with a potato masher. Combine the mashed potatoes with milk, butter, 1 teaspoon of onion salt, and a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth. Set the mashed potatoes aside to cool.

Once the mashed potatoes have cooled, mix them with shredded Cheddar cheese until well combined.

In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat, turning it occasionally until it is evenly browned and almost crispy, about 10 minutes. Add sliced onion to the hot bacon fat and cook until it is translucent, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Break the cooked bacon into pieces with a spoon or spatula and set it aside along with the onion. In a separate bowl, mix together cottage cheese, egg, and 1 teaspoon of onion salt.

To assemble the casserole, place 3 lasagna noodles into the prepared baking dish and spread them evenly with the cottage cheese mixture. Top the cottage cheese layer with 3 more lasagna noodles, then spread a layer of mashed potato-cheese mixture on top. Repeat this process one more time, topping the final layer of noodles with a layer of bacon and onion.

Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake it in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is hot, about 30 minutes. Allow it to set for about 10 minutes before serving.