Description
This Healthy High Protein Cottage Cheese Baked Ziti is the ultimate feel-good comfort food made lighter. It’s creamy, cheesy, savory—and packed with protein thanks to the clever use of cottage cheese. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, a cozy weekend meal, or meal prep for the week, this baked pasta hits all the right notes. Whether you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, healthy pasta recipes, or simply a crowd-pleasing food idea, this one’s a guaranteed hit!
Ingredients
12 oz ziti or rigatoni pasta
1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey
2 cups marinara sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1 tsp dried basil
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Chopped parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook the ground beef or turkey until browned. Drain excess fat. Add marinara, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Simmer 5–7 minutes.
3. In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, Parmesan, egg, and dried basil.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, mix pasta with meat sauce.
5. Spread half the pasta in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Add the cottage cheese mixture. Top with remaining pasta.
6. Sprinkle mozzarella on top. Bake uncovered 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
7. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or basil if desired.
Notes
Blend cottage cheese for a smoother texture if you prefer a ricotta-like feel.
You can prep this dish the day before and bake it when ready to eat.
Let the baked ziti rest after baking so it sets and slices cleanly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 85mg