Description
Cottage Cheese Baked Ziti is a creamy, comforting pasta bake that combines tender ziti pasta with rich cottage cheese, savory marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This quick and versatile Italian-inspired dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or family gatherings, offering a satisfying meal with simple pantry staples and a velvety texture thanks to the cottage cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 2 cups whole milk cottage cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Sauce and Aromatics
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Others
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until just al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta water to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Prepare the Sauce Base: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the finely chopped onion and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 3–4 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, stirring to combine. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to deepen the flavors.
- Combine Pasta and Cottage Cheese: In a large mixing bowl, gently fold the cooked ziti with the whole milk cottage cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Pour in enough of the marinara mixture to coat the pasta thoroughly, reserving some sauce for topping. If the mixture seems thick, stir in some reserved pasta water to loosen.
- Assemble and Bake: Transfer the pasta mixture into a greased baking dish. Evenly spread the remaining marinara sauce on top. Sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese generously over the assembled pasta.
- Bake Until Golden: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the dish for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Once baked, let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving to set the layers and improve slicing.
Notes
- Use whole milk cottage cheese for creamier, richer baked ziti.
- Do not overcook the pasta; al dente texture holds up better after baking.
- Allow the baked ziti to rest after baking to firm up the layers for better slicing.
- Layering cottage cheese with mozzarella creates a creamy yet gooey texture.
- Customize the marinara sauce with fresh basil or a splash of red wine for extra depth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 35mg