Description
A comforting Italian-American classic featuring ziti pasta baked with rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese. This crowd-pleasing casserole is perfect for family dinners and potlucks.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ziti noodles (uncooked)
- 1 lb zucchini
- 1/2 lb cauliflower
- 24 oz Prego® Meat Pasta Sauce
- 1 lb meatballs (lean turkey is the best)
- 16 oz cottage cheese (small curd)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Brown sausage, breaking it apart. Add onion and garlic; cook until soft.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In separate bowl, mix ricotta, egg, parsley, 1 cup mozzarella, and Parmesan.
- Combine cooked ziti with meat sauce. Spread half in 9×13″ baking dish.
- Dollop ricotta mixture over pasta, then top with remaining pasta mixture.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella on top. Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly.
- Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For vegetarian version, omit meat and add sautéed mushrooms
- Can be assembled ahead and refrigerated overnight
- Freezes well for up to 3 months
- Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if preferred
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dish
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 95mg