Healthy High Protein Baked Ziti

This Italian-style High Protein Baked Ziti is the ultimate macro-friendly pasta, perfect for a light dinner that is high in protein and low-calorie! This easy dinner is cheesy, saucy, and delicious while packing around 56 grams of protein per serving!

There’s nothing quite like a big dish of saucy, cheesy baked ziti, but it often comes with a lot of calories, right? While I enjoy indulging in delicious traditional foods, I believe that moderation is essential for maintaining a healthy feel-good lifestyle. That’s why I’m always trying to create healthier meal options for my family, allowing us to indulge sometimes without feeling guilty.

There are many different types of protein pasta available. In this recipe, I used Simply Nature penne pasta, which I really like. Another brand I love is Banza, as they offer a wider variety of pasta and are more accessible in stores. You can use whichever pasta you prefer for this recipe.

Why I Love This Recipe:

• Easy to make- this dish is pretty simple to make, just cook the ground beef, chop your veggies, mix everything together, and throw it into the oven until done!

• Healthy- high-protein, low-calorie, with a large serving size

• Delicious- cooking healthier doesn't have to mean bland, with the right blend of seasonings and spices you won't sacrifice any flavor.

What You Will Need:

• Lean ground beef- you can also use ground turkey

• Veggies- zucchini and onions

• Pasta sauce- your favorite brand

• Protein pasta of choice- I used Simply Nature protein penne pasta

• Cheeses- low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat mozzarella, shredded parmesan

• Seasonings- Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper

How To Make It:

This dish is super simple to make. Start by preheating your oven to 375°F.

Cook the ground beef until it is lightly browned, then set it aside. Next, cook the pasta until it's al dente—about 5 minutes; do not cook it longer, as it will continue to cook in the oven.

While the pasta is cooking, combine the chopped veggies, cottage cheese, cooked ground beef, pasta sauce, drained pasta, and all the seasonings in a bowl. To save on dishes, you can simply use the baking dish you plan to bake in. Mix the ingredients until they are well combined, then transfer the mixture to a 9x13" baking dish.

Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, cover with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden at the edges. Time to enjoy!