A comforting baked pasta casserole with creamy cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella — perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Yields6 ServingsPrep Time15 minsCook Time30 minsTotal Time45 mins
400gZiti or penne pasta
300gLow-fat cottage cheese
250mlMarinara or tomato pasta sauce
200gShredded mozzarella cheese
1Egg
1tbspOlive oil
200gGround beef or turkey (optional)
Salt — to taste
Black pepper — to taste
Dried Italian herbs — to taste
Fresh parsley or basil (for garnish) — a few sprigs
1
Step 1: Boil the ziti until al dente, drain, and set aside.
2
Step 2: In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, egg, and half of the shredded mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper.
3
Step 3: (Optional) In a pan, heat olive oil, cook ground beef or turkey until browned, drain fat, stir in marinara sauce, and simmer briefly.
4
Step 4: In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with the cheese mixture and half of the tomato sauce. Transfer to a baking dish, top with remaining sauce, and sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella.
5
Step 5: Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 25–30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil before serving.
Nutrition Facts
6 servings
Serving size
250
Amount per serving
Calories340
% Daily Value *
Total Fat19g25%
Total Carbohydrate37g14%
Protein19g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Ingredients
400gZiti or penne pasta
300gLow-fat cottage cheese
250mlMarinara or tomato pasta sauce
200gShredded mozzarella cheese
1Egg
1tbspOlive oil
200gGround beef or turkey (optional)
Salt — to taste
Black pepper — to taste
Dried Italian herbs — to taste
Fresh parsley or basil (for garnish) — a few sprigs
Directions
1
Step 1: Boil the ziti until al dente, drain, and set aside.
2
Step 2: In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, egg, and half of the shredded mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper.
3
Step 3: (Optional) In a pan, heat olive oil, cook ground beef or turkey until browned, drain fat, stir in marinara sauce, and simmer briefly.
4
Step 4: In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with the cheese mixture and half of the tomato sauce. Transfer to a baking dish, top with remaining sauce, and sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella.
5
Step 5: Bake at 180 °C (350 °F) for 25–30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil before serving.
