Easy High Protein Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese
This High Protein Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese is creamy, cheesy, and packed with flavor while delivering serious protein in every serving. It is classic comfort food made a little smarter without sacrificing taste.
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 577kcal
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef, 90 to 93 percent lean
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 16 ounces full fat cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 16 oz shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Cook ziti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain excess grease. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes over low heat.
- In a medium bowl, stir together cottage cheese, egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and garlic powder.
- Add cooked pasta to the meat sauce and stir until evenly coated.
- Spread 1/3 of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop and gently spread half of the cottage cheese mixture over the top.
- Repeat layers with another 1/3 of the pasta mixture and cottage cheese mixture.
- Spread the remaining pasta mixture over the cottage cheese layer. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until hot and bubbly and cheese is melted and lightly golden. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 577 kcal | Carbohydrates: 52 g | Protein: 42 g | Fat: 22 g | Saturated Fat: 11 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6 g | Trans Fat: 0.2 g | Cholesterol: 117 mg | Sodium: 1263 mg | Potassium: 710 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 7 g | Vitamin A: 931 IU | Vitamin C: 6 mg | Calcium: 439 mg | Iron: 3 mg
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