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Healthy Baked Ziti with cottage cheese, a high protein dinner option

Healthy Baked Ziti

A comforting and healthier twist on the classic baked ziti, featuring lean meat, cottage cheese, and plenty of melted cheese for a satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients

Pasta and Sauce

  • 12 oz ziti pasta
  • 24 oz marinara sauce
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey Lean meat is recommended.

Cheese Mixture

  • 15 oz cottage cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg

Seasoning

  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Preparation

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey. Drain any excess fat.
  • Stir in the marinara sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes.
  • In a bowl, mix the cottage cheese, egg, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

Assembly and Baking

  • In a large baking dish, layer half of the ziti, half of the meat sauce, and half of the cottage cheese mixture. Repeat the layers.
  • Top with shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  • Let it cool slightly before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 25gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 600mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6g

Notes

For extra veggies, consider adding spinach, bell peppers, or mushrooms to the meat sauce. You can use whole wheat pasta for a healthier twist. Adjust the spices to your liking—adding red pepper flakes can give it a nice kick!
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