Step 1: Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375 °F (190 °C) and lightly grease a 9 × 9-inch baking dish or spray it with cooking spray.

Step 2: Prep the Vegetables: In a skillet, sauté onion and bell pepper over medium heat 3–5 minutes until just soft. Add spinach and cook another minute until wilted. Drain any moisture; excess water can make the bake soggy.

Step 3: Whisk the Egg Base: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, cottage cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until well blended. The cottage cheese will stay slightly lumpy—that’s fine; those bits melt into the eggs later.

Step 4: Combine Everything: Fold the cooked vegetables and half the shredded cheese into the egg mixture. Pour everything into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese (and paprika if using) on top.

Step 5: Bake: Place on the center rack and bake 40–45 minutes until the center is set and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil halfway through.

Step 6: Rest & Slice: Let the bake cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing. This short rest firms the texture and makes clean squares.