BAKED ZITI - The Easy Way!

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.

Boil water for pasta.

Dice the onion and sauté in a pan with olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Add 5 ounces of ziti pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente.

Drain the pasta and return it to the pot.

In the same pan, add 2 links of Italian sausage and 0.5 pound of ground beef to the sautéed onions and cook until browned.

Add marinara sauce and 0.5 teaspoon of garlic powder to the meat mixture and let it simmer.

In the pot with the drained pasta, mix in 15 ounces of ricotta cheese until well distributed.

In a 9 by 13 baking dish, layer half of the pasta with ricotta, followed by the meat sauce, and then mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, and top with the remaining cheese, adding provolone for extra cheesiness.

Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 minutes, then switch to broil until the top is lightly browned.

Let cool slightly before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens