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A beautifully styled High Protein Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese in a white ceramic baking dish, golden melted mozzarella on top, visible layers of pasta and blended cottage cheese underneath, photographed in soft natural light on a marble countertop. Fresh basil sprinkled on top. A serving spoon rests beside the dish. Warm, comforting, editorial food photography with clean, modern styling.

Baked Ziti with Cottage Cheese

A creamy, comforting, protein-enhanced baked ziti made with blended cottage cheese for a lighter, modern take on a beloved classic.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dinner, easy dinner ideas
Cuisine Italian, Italian Fusion, Italian-American
Servings 6 people
Calories 480 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Large pot (for boiling pasta)
  • 1 Colander (for draining pasta)
  • 1 Medium saucepan (for sauce)
  • 1 Blender or food processor (for smoothing cottage cheese)
  • 1 9×13-inch baking dish (ceramic or glass)
  • 1 Mixing bowls (medium and large)
  • 1 Wooden spoon or silicone spatula (for stirring)
  • 1 Ladle (for layering sauce)
  • 1 Measuring cups and spoons
  • 1 Oven mitts (for safe handling)
  • 1 Optional: Cheese grater (for fresh Parmesan)

Ingredients
  

For the pasta and sauce:

  • 1 pound ziti or penne
  • 3 cups marinara sauce (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
  • 2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the high-protein cottage cheese mixture:

  • 2 cups cottage cheese (2% or 4%)
  • 1 pcs large egg
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Cook the pasta.
    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until just shy of al dente (about 1 minute less than package instructions). Drain and set aside.
  • Prepare the sauce.
    In a saucepan, warm olive oil and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add marinara, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Blend the cottage cheese.
    Combine cottage cheese, egg, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, basil, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.
  • Assemble.
    Preheat oven to 375°F.
    In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with half the sauce. In a 9×13 baking dish, layer as follows:
    o A thin layer of sauce
    o Half the pasta
    o All of the cottage cheese mixture
    o Half the mozzarella
    o Remaining pasta
    o Remaining sauce
    o Final layer of mozzarella
  • Bake.
    Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–12 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  • Rest before serving.
    Let the dish rest at least 10 minutes to set.

Video

Notes

Serving Suggestions
This ziti is perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or casual hosting. Pair with a simple green salad, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread. It reheats beautifully, making it great for leftovers or next-day lunches.
Watch this guide video for general tips on making baked ziti — techniques here can help with layering and baking, though it’s not the exact same recipe.
Keyword easy dinner ideas, high protein baked ziti with cottage cheese, High-Protein Baked Ziti