# Baked Ziti

> Hearty baked pasta with beef, Italian chicken sausage, and a blended cottage cheese layer.

Recipe page: https://goodguteats.com/recipes/baked-ziti/

- Makes: 8 servings, 1 scoop each
- Category: Main course
- Cuisine: Italian-American

Total time: ~2h 5m.

## Nutrition

Per serving, estimated from the ingredients: 744 calories, 49 g protein, 55 g carbs, 36 g fat, 5 g fiber.

## Ingredients (for 8 servings)

- 2 Carrots
  - Tip: Shred on a box grater so they melt into the sauce and disappear completely.
- 1 Red Bell Pepper
  - Tip: Shred on the large holes of a box grater. Any color works.
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 lb Ground Beef
  - Tip: Use 80/20 for the best flavor. Leaner beef makes a drier sauce.
- 1 lb Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage
  - Tip: Trader Joe's Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage is pre-cooked, just brown for color and flavor.
- 1 tbsp Garlic-Infused Olive Oil
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste
- 28 oz San Marzano Canned Tomatoes
  - Tip: San Marzano tomatoes have lower acidity and sweeter flavor than standard canned tomatoes. Crush by hand for the best texture.
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Maple Syrup
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1 lb Pasta (Generic)
  - Tip: Ziti, rigatoni, or penne. Any short tube pasta with ridges catches sauce beautifully. Cook 2 minutes less than package directions.
- 15 oz 4% Cottage Cheese
  - Tip: Blend until smooth for a silky, ricotta-like texture.
- 5 oz Baby Spinach
  - Tip: Wilts into the cheese mixture and practically disappears (easy hidden greens).
- 1 Egg
  - Tip: Helps bind and set the cheese layer during baking.
- 2 oz Parmesan Cheese
  - Tip: A Parmesan/Romano blend works great here. Trader Joe's carries a shredded blend.
- 12 oz Whole Milk Mozzarella
  - Tip: Block mozzarella, grate yourself. Pre-shredded has anti-caking agents that prevent smooth melting.
- 6 Fresh Basil
- to taste Red Pepper Flakes

## Steps

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. (~1m)
2. Shred on the large holes of a box grater: 2 Carrots 1 Red Bell Pepper (~3m)
3. Heat 2 T Olive Oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high. (~2m)
4. Add 1 lb Ground Beef. (~1m)
5. Break into pieces and cook until browned. (~8m)
6. Slice 1 lb Turkey Sausage into rounds and add to pot. (~2m)
7. Brown on both sides. (~4m)
8. Transfer all meat to a plate. (~1m)
9. Drain all but 1 tbsp fat. (~1m)
10. Reduce heat to medium and add 1 T Garlic-Infused Olive Oil, Carrots, and Red Bell Pepper. (~1m)
11. Cook until softened. (~5m)
12. Add 2 T Tomato Paste. (~1m)
13. Stir and toast until darkened. (~2m)
14. Pour in 28 oz Canned Tomatoes, crushing by hand. (~2m)
15. Stir in 1 T Italian Seasoning, 1 tsp Maple Syrup, Salt, and Black Pepper. (~1m)
16. Return meat to pot. (~1m)
17. Simmer sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally. (~15m)
18. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. (~8m)
19. Cook the 1 lb Pasta until still firm at the center. (~8m)
20. Drain. (~1m)
21. Blend 15 oz Cottage Cheese until smooth. (~2m)
22. Wilt 5 oz Spinach in the microwave. Squeeze out excess moisture and fold into the cottage cheese mixture. (~3m)
23. Stir in 1 Egg and half the grated 2 oz Parmesan Cheese. (~1m)
24. Season with Salt and Black Pepper. (~1m)
25. Shred 12 oz Mozzarella from the block. (~2m)
26. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. (~1m)
27. First layer: half the pasta, half the remaining sauce, dollops of half the cottage cheese mixture, one-third of the mozzarella. (~3m)
28. Second layer: remaining pasta, remaining sauce, remaining cottage cheese mixture. Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan. (~3m)
29. Cover tightly with foil. Bake. (~20m)
30. Remove foil. Bake until golden and bubbling. (~10m)
31. Rest before serving. (~10m)
32. Serve. Tear and scatter 6 Fresh Basil on top. Finish with Red Pepper Flakes (~1m)

Classic baked ziti: assemble, bake, golden bubbly cheese on top. Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and bake straight from the fridge (add 10 minutes to bake time).

Recipes, not medical advice.