Easy Baked Ziti 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.

Cook 1 pound of ziti pasta in boiling salted water until al dente, according to package instructions.

In a medium skillet, add 1 pound of ground pork and 1 pound of ground beef, cooking until browned.

Drain almost all the fat from the pan, reserving about 1 tablespoon.

Add 1 medium chopped onion and 1 diced tomato to the meat, stirring to combine.

Season the mixture with salt, black pepper, and paprika to taste, adjusting as necessary.

Add 2 cups of tomato sauce to the meat mixture and stir to combine, then remove from heat.

In a mixing bowl, combine 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, 2 eggs, and 1/2 cup of the Kobe and mozzarella cheese until smooth.

Add the cooked ziti pasta to the ricotta mixture and mix well to coat the pasta.

In a 13 by 9 inch casserole pan, layer the pasta mixture and top with a layer of the meat sauce mixture.

Sprinkle a layer of cheese on top, covering the sauce.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for about 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens