Baked Ziti (Easy Freezer Meals)

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 ziti pasta in salted water for 8 minutes, one minute less than al dente.

Rinse the pasta to cool it down.

Add slightly warm ziti pasta to thawed Italian meat sauce in a bin.

Mix the pasta with the meat sauce until combined, adjusting the amount of noodles and sauce to preference.

Add sour cream and cream cheese to the mixture for creaminess and tang.

Incorporate parsley into the mixture.

Add provolone and mozzarella cheese to the noodle and meat sauce mixture, stirring gently to combine.

If eating fresh, plate the mixture in a baking tin and bake until the cheese is melted.

For freezer meal preparation, cover the mixture tightly in the baking tin and freeze.

To reheat from frozen, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 45 minutes until the cheese is melted and the inside is creamy.

Plate the baked ziti and add extra Parmesan cheese before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens