Enjoy a comforting and flavorful meal with our selection of the best recipes for cooking light baked ziti. This classic Italian dish combines tender pasta, a rich and flavorful tomato sauce, and a cheesy topping, all baked to perfection. Whether you prefer a vegetarian version with roasted vegetables or a meaty rendition with ground beef or Italian sausage, our collection has something for everyone. With a focus on healthy and delicious ingredients, these recipes offer a lighter take on the traditional baked ziti, without sacrificing any of the taste or satisfaction. From quick and easy weeknight dinners to special occasion feasts, let us guide you to the perfect cooking light baked ziti recipe for your next meal.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
Great ziti dish for any lover of pasta. Easy to make and 'wows' the crowd.
Provided by skentals
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h10m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti in boiling water until cooked through but firm to the bite, about 13 minutes; drain. Rinse ziti with cold water until cool; drain.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Mix ziti, ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce into the bottom of a 2 1/2-quart shallow baking dish. Pour ziti mixture into the dish. Top with remaining 1 1/2 cup tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in preheated oven until sauce and cheese layer is bubbly and lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 414.5 calories, Carbohydrate 53.3 g, Cholesterol 59.9 mg, Fat 11.5 g, Fiber 4.1 g, Protein 24.3 g, SaturatedFat 6.4 g, Sodium 1140.7 mg, Sugar 5.6 g
BAKED ZITI
Baked Ziti is a lot like lasagna but it's faster since they are lazier layers, but of course it tastes equally as good! Piled high with pasta, sauce and lots of cheeses! The perfect comforting dish.
Provided by Jaclyn
Categories Main Course
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat oven and boil water: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil (for pasta).
- For the sauce: Heat olive oil in a large saute pan (deep skillet), add onions and saute 2 minutes then add sausage and cook, stirring and breaking up sausage occasionally, until cooked through, adding in garlic during last 1 minute, drain excess fat.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, 2 Tbsp parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring mixture to a light boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and allow to simmer 10 minutes then remove from heat.
- Too cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions about a minute shy of al dente. Drain pasta while reserving 1/4 cup of the pasta water.
- Return pasta to empty pot, immediately add reserved pasta water and 1 cup of the red sauce then toss pasta to coat.
- For the cheeses: In a mixing bowl using a fork stir together ricotta, egg, 2 Tbsp parsley and season with salt and pepper. Mix in 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella and 1/2 cup of the parmesan.
- To assemble the ziti: Spray a 13 by 9-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the red sauce evenly into bottom of dish, then spread 1/2 of the pasta over sauce then dollop spoonfuls of ricotta mixture all over pasta and flatten slightly.
- Top with remaining pasta. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over pasta layer. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining 2 cups of the mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan.
- To cook the baked ziti: Tent baking dish with foil (don't let it touch the cheese or it will stick) and bake 15 minutes then uncover and bake 10 - 15 minutes longer until cheese is melted throughout. Serve warm.
BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
With its rich Italian flavor and generous combination of cheeses, it's hard to believe this pasta entree is light. this simple, meatless baked ziti is made up of six ingredients. It's sure to become a favorite with your family.-Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta; set aside. In a small bowl, combine the egg, ricotta and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. , Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce in a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with a third of the pasta, half of the ricotta mixture, 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese, 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and 1 cup sauce. Repeat layers of pasta, ricotta mixture and mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Top with remaining pasta, sauce mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. , Cover and bake at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 284 calories, Fat 8g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 43mg cholesterol, Sodium 508mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
COOKING LIGHT BAKED ZITI
Make and share this Cooking Light Baked Ziti recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Kanzeda
Categories Penne
Time 45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, but stop short by 2 minutes. Drain the pasta, and run under cold water to stop cooking, set aside.
- Crumble and cook sausage, onion, and garlic in skillet until browned, stirring frequently. Add the salt, pepper, and spaghetti sauce, and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and let cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Combine cooked pasta, sauce and seasoning. Place half of the mixture in a casserole coated with cooking spray. Top with half of mozzarella and half of Parmesan. Repeat layers. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly.
- Yield: 8 servings (serving size: 1 1/2 cups).
Nutrition Facts : Calories 489.8, Fat 19.1, SaturatedFat 6.7, Cholesterol 112.7, Sodium 887.8, Carbohydrate 52.9, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 6.8, Protein 25.1
COOKING LIGHT'S BAKED ZITI CASSEROLE
Baked pasta is hearty, satisfying and easy to prepare. To streamline the recipe, the traditional step of browning the meat before it's combine with the rest of the ingredients is skipped; it cooks fully as the casserole bakes. This recipe easily doubles to feed a crowd; bake in a 13x9-inch baking dish for 35 minutes.
Provided by JackieOhNo
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and falt. Drain.
- Combine pasta, basic marinara, 1/2 cup mozzarella, 2 T. Asiago, salt, pepper sauce, and turkey in a large bowl. Spoon into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining 1/.2 cup mozzarella and remaining 2 T. Asiago. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 461.9, Fat 13.4, SaturatedFat 6.8, Cholesterol 65.3, Sodium 978.4, Carbohydrate 51.2, Fiber 4.7, Sugar 13.1, Protein 32.1
BAKED ZITI I
A lady I worked with brought this in one day, and it was a hit. Now it is the favorite of all my dinner guests. It's great for a covered dish dinner too. I have made this also without the meat, and it is well received.
Provided by Colleen B. Smith
Categories Pasta and Noodles Pasta by Shape Recipes Ziti Recipes
Time 55m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes; drain.
- In a large skillet, brown onion and ground beef over medium heat. Add spaghetti sauce, and simmer 15 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer as follows: 1/2 of the ziti, Provolone cheese, sour cream, 1/2 sauce mixture, remaining ziti, mozzarella cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cheeses are melted.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 578.2 calories, Carbohydrate 58.4 g, Cholesterol 71.3 mg, Fat 25.3 g, Fiber 6 g, Protein 27.9 g, SaturatedFat 12.7 g, Sodium 913.6 mg, Sugar 14.3 g
SLOW-COOKER BAKED ZITI
I don't know one family that doesn't have some crazy, hectic weeknights. This slow-cooker baked ziti recipe was a delicious, easy fix for a busy weeknight dinner for our family. -Christina Addison, Blanchester, Ohio
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 2h10m
Yield 6 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- In a small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil, and if desired, red pepper flakes; set aside. Pour pasta sauce into a 5-qt. slow cooker. Evenly top sauce with pasta; pour water over top. Drop heaping tablespoons of ricotta cheese mixture over pasta. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. , Cover; cook on high until heated through and pasta is tender, 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Top with fresh basil and if desired, Parmesan cheese and additional red pepper flakes; serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 379 calories, Fat 17g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 89mg cholesterol, Sodium 886mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (13g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 23g protein.
BAKED ZITI RECIPE BY TASTY
Supremely saucy and cheesy, baked ziti is a family favorite for a reason! Toss ziti or your favorite tube-shaped pasta with a quick homemade tomato sauce and ricotta-Parmesan mixture, then layer with more ricotta and mozzarella and bake until bubbling and delicious.
Provided by Betsy Carter
Categories Lunch
Time 1h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F (200°C). Grease a 3-quart baking dish with the butter.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and oregano and cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring to coat the aromatics, until the tomato paste is deep brick-red, about 2 minutes.
- Add the whole tomatoes and their juices, using a potato masher or your hands to crush them into the sauce. Add 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until thickened, 20 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of ricotta, the Parmesan, remaining teaspoon of salt, and remaining teaspoon of pepper to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
- Reserve 2 cups of tomato sauce in a bowl, then add the ricotta-Parmesan mixture to the remaining tomato sauce in the pot and stir to combine.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain the pasta in a colander.
- Add the drained pasta tomato-ricotta sauce and stir until well coated.
- Add half of the pasta to the prepared baking dish. Cover with 1 cup of the reserved tomato sauce, ¾ cup of the mozzarella, and ½ cup of the remaining ricotta. Add the remaining pasta, then repeat with the remaining cup of tomato sauce, ¾ cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup of ricotta.
- Bake until the mozzarella is golden brown and the tomato sauce is bubbling, 25-30 minutes.
- Garnish with the basil before serving.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 399 calories, Carbohydrate 17 grams, Fat 25 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 26 grams, Sugar 7 grams
Tips:
- Use a variety of cheeses. This will give your ziti a more complex flavor. Try using a combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, and ricotta cheeses.
- Cook the ziti pasta al dente. This means that it should be cooked through but still have a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta will be mushy and not as flavorful.
- Don't be afraid to add your own ingredients. This is a great recipe to customize to your own taste. Try adding some cooked sausage, ground beef, or vegetables.
- Be sure to let the ziti bake for the full amount of time. This will allow the cheese to melt and the flavors to meld together.
- Serve the ziti with a side of marinara sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
Conclusion:
This Cooking Light Baked Ziti is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is a great way to use up leftover pasta and vegetables, and it is also a great dish to take to potlucks or parties. With its rich and creamy sauce, flavorful cheese, and perfectly cooked pasta, this baked ziti is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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