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Healthy Baked Ziti

This Healthy Baked Ziti is a hearty pasta dish with meat sauce and gooey cheese baked on top. Your family is going to obsess over this Italian-American comfort food made in just 35 minutes.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
35 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 382 kcal
Course: Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine: Italian , American

Ingredients

  • 8 oz box ziti pasta see note below if box is 12 oz
  • 1 lbs lean ground beef 96% lean
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ tbsp oil
  • ½ tbsp Italian seasoning
  • pinch red pepper flakes optional
  • ½ cup white onion diced
  • 1 cup spinach fresh or frozen
  • 26 oz pasta sauce of choice I used vodka sauce
  • ⅔ cup low fat shredded mozzarella
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Start by preparing the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook ziti pasta according to boxed instructions. Once cooked, strain and set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet to medium heat. Add oil and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté until fragrant. Add the ground beef and allow to brown. Break up the meat as it cooks.
  3. Add in the Italian seasoning, diced white onions, and chopped spinach. Stir together. Cook until onions are translucent and beef is fully cooked.
  4. Add pasta sauce to the meat mixture and mix together. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  5. Spray a 3 quart dish with cooking spray. Add cooked ziti noodles into the casserole dish.
  6. Pour the meat sauce over the noodles. Stir.
  7. Top with both cheeses and cover with tinfoil. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted. If desired remove foil and broil the dish for 1-2 minutes until golden and bubble. Enjoy!

Notes

  • I recommend using regular pasta noodles. Plant-based alternatives ziti noodles did not hold up as well as regular noodles in recipe testing. If your box is 12 oz, use 32 oz of sauce.
  • You can assemble this ziti up to a day ahead of time and store the unbaked, assembled dish in the refrigerator. Bake the dish straight from the fridge and add ~10 minutes of baking time.
  • You can assemble this ziti up to a day ahead of time and store the unbaked, assembled dish in the refrigerator. Bake the dish straight from the fridge and add ~10 minutes of baking time.
  • Store this dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 
  • Store this dish in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze

Nutrition Information

Serving 1 serving Calories 382kcal (19%) Carbohydrates 28g (9%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 17g (26%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g Cholesterol 45mg (15%) Sodium 401mg (17%) Potassium 673mg (19%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 7g (14%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 382

% Daily Value*

Serving 1 serving
Calories 382kcal 19%
Carbohydrates 28g 9%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 45mg 15%
Sodium 401mg 17%
Potassium 673mg 14%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 7g 14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.