Description
This comforting baked ziti combines tender pasta, rich marinara sauce, and gooey cheese for a satisfying meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
For the Meat:
- 1 pound Italian sausage (spicy or sweet)
For the Sauce:
- 2 cups marinara sauce
For the Cheese Layer:
- 1 cup cottage cheese (whole milk)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
For Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- 1. Preheat Your Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- 2. Cook the Pasta:
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the ziti until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- 3. Brown the Sausage:
- In a skillet over medium heat, crumble and brown the Italian sausage for about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- 4. Mix It All Together:
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, browned sausage, marinara sauce, garlic powder, oregano, and cottage cheese. Stir until well mixed.
- 5. Layer It Up:
- Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella over this layer. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the rest of the mozzarella.
- 6. Bake to Perfection:
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for about 25 minutes. Remove foil during the last five minutes to allow cheese to become golden and bubbly.
- 7. Serve and Enjoy:
- Let cool slightly before serving with garlic bread or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 55mg