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Delightful Baked Ziti: The Ultimate Cheesy Italian Comfort Food


  • Author: WAFA LI

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz whole wheat ziti pasta
  • 1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 cups low-sodium marinara sauce
  • 1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1½ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ziti according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion until softened, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
  4. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
  5. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  6. In a bowl, combine the cottage cheese and Greek yogurt until smooth.
  7. Mix the cooked ziti with the meat sauce, then gently fold in the cottage cheese mixture.
  8. Transfer everything to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
  9. Sprinkle the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
  10. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

PREP TIME & NUTRITION :

  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Servings: 8
  • Calories: 395
  • Net Carbs: 36g
  • Fats: 14g
  • Protein: 30g