Recipe

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This baked ziti with cottage cheese has everything you'd want from a pasta dish: cheesy, saucy, and ultra satisfying, but with a better-for-you twist.

Craving comfort food but want something high in protein? This cottage cheese baked ziti delivers without feeling heavy.

a baking dish with cottage cheese baked ziti

High Protein Baked Ziti

My neighbor Melissa makes the best baked ziti. She said it was the first recipe she learned how to cook after she got married, and she’s been making it weekly for more than 25 years.

Recently, she mentioned she’s started making her famous baked ziti with cottage cheese, and naturally, I had to try it. I’ve been hooked on remaking other classics with more protein, like cottage cheese pasta and cottage cheese lasagna, and this version is just as easy and delivers happy plates, guaranteed.

Ingredients

Ziti pasta and ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken) are the base of this recipe. You’ll combine both with jarred pasta sauce, cottage cheese, an egg, shredded mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan for the most deliciously cheesy pasta dinner!

How to Make Cottage Cheese Baked Ziti

Here’s an overview of the process and useful tips that will help you make the most delicious cottage cheese baked ziti with no fuss:

Blending the cottage cheese is optional. I like to blend it since it combines better with the pasta sauce.
Cook pasta for 1-2 minutes less than the package directions. You want it al dente. In the meantime, cook the ground meat in the skillet.
Assemble a whisked egg with the pasta sauce, cottage cheese, cooked ground meat, seasonings, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Once combined, add the ziti pasta. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the remaining sauce and cheese.
Bake covered with foil for 45 to 50 minutes. For melted and golden cheese, remove the foil and keep baking for 10 more minutes.

Will Cottage Cheese Melt In pasta?

Cottage cheese doesn’t melt in pasta; that’s why I recommend blending it before mixing it with the sauce. By getting a smooth texture, it combines much better with all the ingredients.

Easy Sides

For a balanced meal, serve this cottage cheese baked ziti with an everyday side salad, your favorite roasted veggies, or these caramelized Brussel sprouts with bacon. So good!

Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 55

Total Time: 1 10

This baked ziti with cottage cheese has everything you'd want from a pasta dish: cheesy, saucy, and ultra satisfying, but with a better-for-you twist.

5 from 3 votes

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Ingredients

8 ounces ziti pasta
24 ounce jar pasta sauce, your favorite
1 ½ cups cottage cheese
½ lb lean ground meat, beef, turkey or chicken
1 large egg
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Prep:

Preheat the oven to 375F. Pour 1 cup of sauce at the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread it around to cover the bottom.
Optional step: blend the cottage cheese until smooth. I like how the smooth texture blends better with the sauce.

Cook:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta 1-2 minutes less than the package directions. Al dente pasta should be cooked but still feel a bit tough. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground meat for 7 to 9 minutes, breaking it apart with a spatula as it browns. Season lightly with salt and pepper (about ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper), if desired. Once fully cooked, remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

Assemble:

In a large bowl, whisk the egg. Then, add the remaining 1 ½ cups pasta sauce, cottage cheese, cooked ground meat, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix until well combined. Add the cooked pasta to the bowl and stir to distribute the meaty mixture evenly.
Transfer the pasta mixture into the baking dish and spread it out evenly. Top with the remaining ½ cup pasta sauce, then sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese over the top.
Cover the dish tightly with foil.

Bake:

Bake covered for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.