Description
This Healthy High Protein Cottage Cheese Baked Ziti is a creamy, comforting, and protein-packed pasta bake made with cottage cheese, marinara, and mozzarella. A perfect meal-prep friendly casserole recipe for a nutritious weeknight dinner. Ideal for high-protein meal plans, baked ziti lovers, and anyone looking for a healthy pasta dish.
Ingredients
225g ziti pasta
1 cup cottage cheese
1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 cups marinara sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine cottage cheese, egg, garlic powder, basil, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth.
3. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the blended cottage cheese mixture with marinara sauce and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
4. Add the cooked pasta into the bowl and mix until the pasta is evenly coated.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
6. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until the top is bubbly and lightly golden.
7. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
This dish freezes beautifully—perfect for make-ahead dinners.
Swap ziti with penne, rigatoni, or a gluten-free pasta if needed.
Feel free to mix in sautéed spinach or cooked lean ground turkey for variation.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dish
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 55mg