Easy, healthy pasta recipes are recently my new go-to for weeknight dinners (have you tried The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe? SO GOOD). Not only can they typically be made in 30 minutes or less, but I love that I can refrigerate the leftovers and have them throughout the week! Especially with a 6 almost 7 month old baby in our lives now. There’s no time for complicated dinners, so I’m all about quick and easy dinners right now. This Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti Recipe is a total lifesaver!
Watch this video tutorial on how to make this Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe!
What you need for this Vegetarian Baked Ziti recipe
Ziti or penne pasta
In this case, I actually used penne because I wasn’t able to find ziti at the grocery store that day. However, I have also made this recipe with ziti and it works both ways!
I love using this brand of ziti and penne pasta because it’s made with chickpea flour, low carb, and tastes great!
Vegetables
Bell pepper, mushrooms, and zucchini work great in vegetarian baked ziti! However, there are many vegetables that can also be used. This includes summer squash, onion, cauliflower, eggplant, and chickpeas.
Cottage cheese instead of ricotta
Many baked ziti recipes are made with ricotta. However, using cottage cheese is a great, healthy alternative! It has less calories, less fat, and tastes amazing in this baked ziti.
Loving this Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti Recipe? Then you’ll love these other healthy pasta recipes:
- The BEST Easy Healthy Lasagna Recipe
- Mushroom & Spinach Pasta Bake
- Healthy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Casserole
Easy Vegetarian Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 oz. box ziti or penne pasta (dry)
- 4 cups pasta sauce
- 1 red bell pepper (medium)
- 10 oz. mushrooms
- 1 zucchini (small)
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese (small curd)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup parmesan
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- salt/pepper
- fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook the pasta according to directions and drain.
- While the pasta is cooking, chop the vegetables into small pieces.
- Place the vegetables in a casserole dish, drizzle with olive oil, and add salt/pepper/dried oregano to taste.
- Bake the vegetables for about 10 minutes (or until they start getting soft).
- Remove the vegetables from the oven and set aside.
- Layer half of everything as follows: pasta, pasta sauce, vegetables, cottage cheese, mozzarella.
- Repeat a second layer of everything in the casserole dish.
- Top the casserole dish with parmesan and fresh basil (optional).
- Bake for about 15-20 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Emmanuel says:
Hi, I was wondering is this a great meal coming home from working out. I’m working on my health so prepping is a big thing for me. I’ve been searching for health meals specifically for dinner. I wanna learn how to make my own regimen and not rely on fast food. I want to expand my horizon or eating healthy this looks delicious I’m going cook this one.
Jennifer Talley says:
It was a great weekday meal! Thanks!
Amy says:
Awesome recipe! I reckon I’d prefer penne anyway so this worked out well. And love that you used cottage cheese instead of ricotta. I’m always on the lookout for new midweek recipes to try and mix it up a bit. This would be perfect!
Marina says:
Great vegetarian pasta bake recipe, will definitely try it out. Thanks for sharing
Debra says:
Perfect. Easy. Healthy. Tasty. I’m in!
JoAnne Kim says:
So tasty! And light! We loved this! This is a keeper!
Angela Cardamone @marathonsandmotivation.com says:
This recipe looks so delicious! I bet that my kids would love t try this!
Deborah Brooks says:
i am a huge baked ziti fan myself! Have not tried it w cottage cheese before-interesting
Amanda Kerr says:
I honestly love having meat in all my dishes for fitness goals, however this dish looks beyond amazing! The pictures are also very gorgeous!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says:
This is my kind of recipe! I’m all about easy, healthy pasta dishes too and this one has my name on it. Can’t wait to try.
Christine McMichael replied:
Yes!! Same here. Hope you enjoy the recipe, Julie!
Abbey Sharp says:
Love baked ziti! I’ll have to try this recipe!
Christine McMichael replied:
Enjoy, Abbey!
Deborah Brooks says:
Huge fan of baked ziti! I have not tried it with cottage cheese though will have to check that out. Would love to have you join our meatless Monday linkup
Christine McMichael replied:
Same here! I really love the cottage cheese in the recipe. It’s so good!
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says:
Oh boy does this look delish! Baked ziti is one of my favorites!
Christine McMichael replied:
Thank you! It was so good!
Gloria says:
Love easy, healthy dinner recipes like this baked ziti. And my family loved it, too! Soooo good.
Christine McMichael replied:
Yes, me too! Especially when they’re this easy to make!