Description
High Protein Baked Ziti is a delicious, guilt-free comfort food option packed with protein and low in lactose.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups Ziti Pasta (or substitute with penne or rigatoni)
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil (or substitute with avocado oil)
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef (or substitute with ground turkey or plant-based alternatives)
- 1 pound Italian Ground Turkey or Chicken Sausage (or substitute with turkey bacon or vegetarian sausage)
- 1 medium Yellow Onion (or substitute with shallots)
- 3 cloves Garlic (fresh is recommended)
- 24 ounces Marinara Sauce (choose quality brands like Rao’s)
- 1 cup Water (adjust for consistency)
- 1 tablespoon Basil (fresh or dried)
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning (or substitute with oregano or thyme)
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder (fresh is an alternative)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder (fresh is an alternative)
- to taste Salt
- to taste Black Pepper
- 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese (or a mix of cheeses)
- 1 cup Full-Fat Cottage Cheese (or substitute with ricotta)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese (or nutritional yeast as a non-dairy alternative)
- a pinch Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Boil salted water in a large pot, then cook the ziti until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic and yellow onion in olive oil in a skillet until translucent, approximately 2 minutes.
- Add the lean ground beef and turkey sausage to the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, water, basil, and Italian seasoning. Let this mixture simmer for 10 minutes.
- Combine the cottage cheese, mozzarella, parmesan, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of black pepper until smooth.
- Mix the cooked pasta with the meat sauce in a large bowl. Layer it into a baking dish with the cheese mixture and remaining pasta.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for 25 minutes until bubbling and golden brown.
- Rest the baked ziti for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: High Protein Baked Ziti, Baked Ziti, Protein, Comfort Food