How to Make BAKED PASTA/BAKED ZITI - Southern Italian Style

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 in a large pot and add salt.

Drop in rigatoni pasta and cook for about 12 minutes, slightly less than the package directions because it will bake more in the oven.

Drain the pasta and add a little bit of bolognese sauce to coat it.

Take half of the pasta and place it in a baking dish.

Spread some meat sauce over the pasta in the baking dish.

Add mozzarella cheese and grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese on top of the meat sauce.

Add boiled eggs into the dish, distributing them evenly.

Add the remaining half of the pasta on top and spread it out.

Top with more meat sauce, mozzarella cheese, and parmigiano-reggiano cheese as desired.

Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 to 45 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens