BAKED ZITI with ITALIAN SAUSAGE & GROUND BEEF | recipe

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.

Combine ricotta cheese, 1 egg, some Italian parsley, and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and mix well; set aside.

In a bowl, combine Parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese and mix well; set aside.

In a preheated pot, add Italian sausage and ground beef; brown them for about 15 to 20 minutes, allowing them to release juices.

If there's excess oil, drain it; then season the meat lightly as Italian sausage already contains salt.

Add chopped onions, bell peppers, and about 2 tablespoons of garlic to the meat; mix well and cook for about 2 minutes.

Add about half or a little more than half of the pasta sauce to the meat mixture; mix well.

Add Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper, and brown sugar to balance acidity; cover and let simmer on low heat for about 45 minutes.

After 45 minutes, garnish the meat sauce with fresh parsley and set aside.

In a medium-sized saucepan, boil Italian ziti pasta until tender (not al dente); drain and set aside.

Prepare a 9x13 casserole dish by greasing it with butter.

Add half of the meat sauce to the bottom of the casserole dish, followed by half of the ricotta cheese mixture, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese; repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.

Place the dish in a 400°F oven for about 30 to 45 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown; do not cover.

Garnish with fresh parsley and let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

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