This high-protein baked ziti dish is a family favorite for dinner! With 20 grams of protein per serving (pretty impressive for a pasta dish!), it’s a satisfying, hearty meal that still feels light. It’s also loaded with vegetables, adding extra nutrition, flavor, and color, making it a healthier, well-balanced baked ziti.
The combination of cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Parmesan creates a creamy, cheesy texture that’s hard to resist. Everyone fights over the crispy parts on top. This high-protein baked ziti recipe is a healthier twist on a classic, comforting dish. Plus, it’s easy enough to make, so you can get a balanced, healthy meal on the table without a lot of fuss. Serve it with a fresh salad, and you’ve got a wholesome dinner everyone will enjoy!
Notes:
- It doesn’t really matter which vegetables you use. I often use any combination of those listen in the recipe below, but don’t sweat it if you don’t have the exact same ones! Use whatever you like (or whatever you have!)
- For even more protein, double the amount of eggs. I admit I haven’t tried it yet, but I can’t imagine this would change the recipe for the worse. If anything, it would improve it!
- You can prepare parts of the dish in advance to save time. Cook the vegetables ahead of time, then store the skillet in the fridge overnight. When you’re ready to cook, simply take it out and follow the remaining steps of the recipe. I did this myself while chopping vegetables for soup one night and thought, “Why not keep using the food processor for the ziti I’ll make tomorrow?” It’s a smart way to save even more prep time.
- Depending on your oven, you may need to adjust the baking time. Just be sure to keep an eye on it to prevent the noodles from burning!
For a full list of easy dinner ideas the whole family will love, go get this FREEBIE ➡️ Family Friendly Dinner Ideas Cheat Sheet
High-Protein Vegetable Baked Ziti
Equipment
- food processor
- casserole dish
Ingredients
- 500 grams macaroni noodles
- 4 TB olive oil
- 2 small zucchiinis (or 1 large)
- 1 red pepper
- 1 yellow pepper
- 1 red onion
- 2 tomatoes (juicy)
- 250 grams cottage cheese
- 200 grams grated mozerella
- 100 grams grated parmesian
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180℃ (360℉) on the fan grill (turbo grill) setting.
- Roughly chop all the vegetables into large chunks, then place them in a food processor. Pulse until they are finely chopped into small pieces.
- Heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, until they soften and reduce slightly.
- While the vegetables are cooking, bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the macaroni noodles according to the package instructions.
- Add the cooked noodles to the skillet and toss to combine.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs together with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Add the cottage cheese, most of the grated mozzarella and parmesan (reserving a handful for sprinkling on top), and the whisked eggs to the skillet. Toss everything together until well combined.
- Rub about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your casserole dish, then add the ziti mixture. Sprinkle the reserved grated cheeses on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is crispy and golden.
