High Protein Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is one of those meals I keep coming back to when I want something easy but still cozy and filling. I made this on a night when I didn’t want to do much but needed dinner to basically cook itself. The chickpea pasta keeps it light but still satisfying, and the cottage cheese melts right in to make it extra creamy without a ton of effort. Everything bakes together in one dish, which means less time cleaning up and more time just… chilling while it’s in the oven.
It’s a great meal prep option too: makes a big batch, reheats well, and you can freeze leftovers for later. Think comfort food, but with a little extra protein boost. This baked ziti recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients that come together into something that tastes like it took way more work than it did.
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Recipe Tips
Don’t pre-cook the pasta: The beauty of making ziti baked in the sauce is that the pasta cooks right in, absorbing all the flavors as it bakes. Using it uncooked keeps it from getting mushy and saves time.
Mix thoroughly before baking: Make sure everything—pasta, meat, sauce, cheese, broth—is really well combined before it goes in the dish. This helps everything cook evenly and prevents dry spots. For this baked ziti, thorough mixing helps get the creamy texture you want.
Cover tightly with foil: A snug foil cover traps steam, which helps cook the pasta perfectly. If the foil is loose, the top might dry out too soon. Covering your ziti as it bakes is key to perfect results.
Broil with care: When you take the foil off to broil, stay close. The cheese will bubble up and brown quickly. 3-5 minutes max, depending on your oven, is usually perfect. Broiling the baked ziti gives it a golden finish.
Rest before serving: Let it cool for at least 10 minutes after baking. The sauce thickens, the cheese sets, and it makes for cleaner slices. Resting the ziti after baking keeps the layers intact.
Great for freezing: Cool completely, then portion and wrap in foil or store in airtight containers. Perfect for busy nights when you just want to reheat something good. Baked ziti is ideal for freezing and reheating.
Ingredient Swaps: No chickpea pasta? Use regular ziti or any gluten-free pasta; just make sure it’s uncooked when added so it bakes up perfectly in the sauce. No cottage cheese? Ricotta works great here, too if you want more of that classic baked ziti vibe, creamy and rich. Need more veggies? Add in chopped spinach, zucchini, or mushrooms before baking for an extra boost. No bone broth ? Chicken broth or veggie broth works just as well if that’s what you have on hand. Make it spicy? A pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce stirred into the meat mixture gives it a nice little kick. Many classic swaps can make your baked ziti more personal.
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven at 350°F until warmed through. In the fridge, baked ziti stays delicious for days.
Freezer: Freeze portions or the whole dish for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat at 350°F. The freezer is perfect for baked ziti make-ahead meals.
If you loved this cozy one-pot dinner, you’ll also love my Viral Dumpling Bake.
More Dinner Recipes:
High Protein Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 12 oz chickpea pasta uncooked
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- ½ cup cottage cheese blended
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 cup bone broth
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
Enable step-by-step mode- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- In a Dutch oven or large skillet, brown ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, cottage cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- Add uncooked pasta and 1 cup of bone broth. Mix thoroughly.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13″ baking dish.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove foil, broil for 5 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly
So yummy. How many servings does the recipe whole recipe make?
around 8-10 servings!
We loved this recipe! It’s definitely going to be a frequent go to recipe for us. I appreciate that it’s high protein and it’s so comforting. This is going to be the next recipe I make for a meal train!