Easy Italian Baked Pasta Casserole

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Provolone is often less expensive and melts well.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often cheaper.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grana padano

Grana padano is a more affordable alternative to parmesan.

Put a large pot of water up to boil for pasta.

In another pan, heat up the olive oil and sauté the spinach.

Once the spinach has cooked down, drain the liquid and squeeze it out in a colander.

In a bowl, beat an egg and add the ricotta cheese; mix together.

Add the spinach, salt, and pepper to the ricotta mixture and mix until well combined.

When the water boils, add the pasta and cook until al dente.

Cut up the onions and sauté them in the same skillet used for the spinach with olive oil.

Slice zucchini thin and sauté with the onions.

Once the pasta is al dente, drain it and return it to the pot, adding a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

After the zucchini has cooked down, add in the tomato sauce and stir together, cooking for a few minutes.

Layer 1/3 of the pasta in a baking dish, followed by sauce, fresh basil, half of the ricotta mixture, 1/3 of the shredded mozzarella, and half of the zucchini.

Repeat with another layer of pasta, sauce, basil, the rest of the ricotta, 1/3 of the mozzarella, and the rest of the zucchini.

Top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella, adding fresh black pepper on top.

Cover the tray with tin foil and place it in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, remove the tin foil and bake for another 10 minutes.

Turn the broiler on high to toast the cheese, watching closely as it only takes a minute or two.

Let it sit for a few minutes before cutting.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens