Easy Baked Ziti

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.

Start by cooking 2 pounds of ground beef in a skillet.

Add chopped onion to the skillet with the beef.

Season the meat with complete seasoning, seasoned salt, and Tony's seasoning.

Cook until the beef is browned and the onion is softened.

Add 1 tablespoon of garlic to the skillet and cook for a moment.

Drain the grease from the skillet after browning the meat.

Pour in 24 ounces of Ragu marinara sauce and mix well.

Add a little sugar to the sauce to cut acidity and let it simmer.

In a bowl, combine 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, 1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese, 0.5 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1 egg.

Season the cheese mixture with black pepper and Italian seasoning, then mix well.

Cook the ziti pasta for about 8 minutes until al dente, then drain.

Add a spoonful of the meat sauce to the cheese mixture to keep it juicy.

Layer the baking dish starting with some meat sauce on the bottom.

Add a layer of the cheesy pasta mixture on top of the meat sauce.

Sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta mixture.

Add another layer of meat sauce, ensuring to get it into the corners.

Repeat with another layer of the cheesy pasta mixture.

Finish with the remaining meat sauce and top with the rest of the mozzarella cheese.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens