Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Homemade Tomato Sauce | Feed a Crowd Without Breaking the Bank!

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

In a medium-sized pot, heat 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat.

Add 3 cloves of pressed garlic to the oil and warm until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add 2 cans of tomato sauce and 1 can of whole peeled tomatoes (broken down by hand) to the pot.

Stir in 2 teaspoons of salt, 1 tablespoon of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 tablespoon of dried basil, 1 tablespoon of dried oregano, 3 tablespoons of dehydrated minced onions, and 3 tablespoons of sugar.

Stir the sauce and let it simmer while preparing the pasta.

Boil 2 boxes of ziti in salted water until al dente, then drain.

In a large bowl, mix 24 ounces of ricotta cheese, 16 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese, and some grated Parmesan cheese.

In a large deep baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti, half of the sauce, and half of the cheese mixture.

Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.

Spray the baking dish with non-stick cooking spray before layering.

Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens