Creamy Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 poundziti pasta
- 2 cupscottage cheese
- 24 ouncesmarinara sauce
- 2 cupsmozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cupparmesan cheese, grated
- 1egg
- 3 clovesgarlic
- ·salt
- ·black pepper
- 2 tablespoonsolive oil
Prep
- 01
Mince 3 cloves garlic (optional: stir into cottage cheese mixture for deeper flavor).
- 02
Shred 2 cups mozzarella and grate 0.5 cup parmesan if starting from blocks.
Method
- 01
Preheat oven to 375°F.
- 02
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook until just al dente (about 2 minutes under the package time). Drain and set aside.
- 03
In a large bowl, whisk together cottage cheese, egg, 1 cup mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan, and a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth.
- 04
Gently fold the cooked ziti into the cottage cheese mixture until evenly coated.
- 05
Pour marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Add the ziti mixture and stir gently to combine. Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan.
- 06
Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until the top is golden and bubbling at the edges. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Spice Tips
Stir a pinch of red pepper flakes into the cottage cheese mixture for gentle heat. A handful of fresh basil stirred in just before serving brightens the dish.
Cottage cheese creates a creamy, lighter texture than ricotta while keeping prep minimal. You can stir minced garlic into the cottage cheese mixture for extra depth. Leftovers reheat well covered in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes.