Homemade Baked Ziti | Keep It Simple

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.

Prep all ingredients and have them ready.

In a bowl, combine cottage cheese, large eggs, and some Parmesan cheese, saving the rest for topping.

Bring water to a boil and cook the pasta for about 6 minutes, only cooking it 50% of the way.

In a pan, add cream and cornstarch to thicken it, resembling an alfredo sauce.

Add the cottage cheese mixture and 1 to 2 cups of marinara sauce to the pan.

Add pieces of mozzarella cheese and the partially cooked pasta to the mixture.

Butter a baking dish and transfer the pasta mixture into it.

Add the remaining marinara sauce over the pasta mixture.

Scatter the saved mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese on top.

Cover the dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for about 25 minutes.

Remove the foil and return to the oven to brown the top.

Once done, garnish with fresh basil before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens