Here she is, the lightened-up baked ziti of my dreams. This baked ziti has all of lasagna’s saucy, mozzarella-topped appeal, but is easier to pull off on a regular weeknight. Amen.
When I dreamed up this recipe, I wanted to replace some of the pasta with roasted vegetables. In the end, I was able to displace half of the ziti (8 ounces) with two pounds (32 ounces!) of vegetables.
I chose cauliflower, which develops the most irresistible golden edges as it roasts, red bell pepper and yellow onion. I love this combination, but you could easily use your favorite vegetables here.
It took me a while to find the perfect ratio of mozzarella, marinara, and ricotta (I actually used cottage cheese, more on that in a bit). I believe I’ve hit the nail on the head with the final recipe, and can’t wait to hear how it turns out for you.
The Best Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is so versatile. Here are a few more reasons to love it:
- This vegetarian baked ziti will satisfy everyone. True, it’s meatless, but carnivores love ziti without the meat when it tastes this good.
- This baked ziti would be a great option for a date night or casual entertaining. You’ll have plenty of time between steps to chat and sip wine.
- It’s a quiet recipe to make, too. You don’t have to sauté anything! I feel like this is an underrated recipe quality.
- This ziti can be assembled up to 3 days in advance, so this is a perfect dish to make ahead or bring to a friend who could use a good meal.
- This lightened-up classic Italian dish is surprisingly high in protein. Each serving offers twenty grams!
- This ziti would be awesome with my chopped Italian salad. Feel free to make a simplified version of it.
Watch How to Make Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti Ingredient Notes
This recipe doesn’t require a long list of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
Pasta
Preferably ziti, but rigatoni or penne will also work. I usually opt for whole wheat noodles (love DeLallo and Bionaturae), but those have been harder to come by lately, so I used Whole Foods’ organic ziti for these pictures. Pasta is generally sold in one-pound boxes so you’ll need half of a box.
I believe you could use a sturdy corn and quinoa pasta blend to make this recipe gluten free.
Marinara
I’m a huge fan of my homemade marinara recipe, but since this recipe is supposed to be simple, I opted for a jarred option from the store. My favorite brand is Rao’s, which tastes pretty close to my homemade sauce. If you do want to make homemade marinara, you’ll need to double my recipe to yield the four cups you’ll need for this ziti.
Vegetables
I used cauliflower, bell pepper and onion. If you’re sensitive to onions, you might want to swap the onion for something else (maybe a sweet potato?).
You can use up your leftover vegetables in this ziti recipe. You’ll need about two pounds prepared vegetables to make it work. Keep in mind that heads of broccoli or cauliflower weigh twice as much as they yield in florets (so a two-pound bunch of broccoli will yield about one pound of florets).
Fresh Basil
Now, you could skip the basil, but it adds a lot of irresistible fresh flavor to jarred marinara, and livens up the cheesy finished dish. In my opinion, it is worth buying!
Mozzarella
Part-skim mozzarella is ideal here, since it develops a beautiful golden shade in the oven. It also makes your finished dish less greasy than it would be if you used full-fat mozzarella.
It’s best to grate your cheese yourself, rather than to buy the pre-shredded kind (you’ll also save money this way). Pre-grated cheese is typically coated in starch or powder that can inhibit its melty factor.
Cottage Cheese (or Ricotta)
Scandalous, I know! I genuinely prefer cottage cheese to ricotta here, even though I can’t stand cottage cheese on its own. Ricotta tends to get gummy when heated, which bothers me, whereas cottage cheese turns magically more creamy and delicious. Use whichever one you prefer in lasagna recipes.
A Few Tips Before You Get Started
Use half-sheet pans. If only everyone owned these basic half-sheet pans (affiliate link). They offer a lot of surface area, so your vegetables have some breathing room while they roast.
Be sure to use a big baker. You’ll need a three quart baker (think 9×13″ with deep sides) for this one. Here’s mine. To err on the side of caution against overflow, I’ve instructed you to place the baker on a clean rimmed baking sheet when it’s in the oven.
Don’t overcook your pasta. In fact, you want it a little bit undercooked, so cook it for the shortest amount of time offered on the package. It should still have a little bite to it when you drain it, since it will continue to cook while it’s in the oven.
Please let me know how this baked ziti recipe turns out for you in the comments! I hope you love it as much as I do.
Craving more Italian comfort food? Don’t miss these recipes on Cookie and Kate:
- Best Vegetable Lasagna
- Baked Ziti with Lentils
- Hearty Spaghetti with Lentils and Marinara Sauce
- Classic Minestrone Soup
Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables
- Author:
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
This amazing baked ziti recipe is lightened up with roasted vegetables. Golden mozzarella, sizzling red sauce and tender pasta make this vegetarian ziti super delicious! Recipe yields 8 servings.
Ingredients
Roasted veggies
-
1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
-
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1″ squares
-
1 medium yellow onion, sliced into wedges about ½″ wide
-
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
-
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided
Pasta and everything else
-
8 ounces ziti, rigatoni or penne pasta
-
4 cups (32 ounces) marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought), divided
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
-
8 ounces (2 packed cups) grated part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
-
2 cups (16 ounces) cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, divided
Instructions
-
To roast the veggies: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the middle and upper third of the oven. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the vegetables from sticking.
-
Place the cauliflower florets on one pan. On the other pan, combine the bell peppers and onion. Drizzle half of the olive oil over one pan, and the other half over the other pan. Sprinkle the salt over the two pans. Gently toss until the vegetables on each pan are lightly coated in oil.
-
Arrange the vegetables in an even layer across each pan. Bake until the vegetables are tender and caramelized on the edges, about 30 to 35 minutes, tossing the veggies and swapping their rack positions halfway (lower rack to upper rack, and vice versa). Leave the oven on at 425, because we’re going to bake the dish at the same temperature. If you end up with any stray burnt onion pieces, discard them, and set the vegetables aside.
-
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta just until al dente, according to package directions (it will continue to cook while it bakes in the oven, so you want the pasta to still have a little bite to it). Drain and return the pasta to the pot.
- Add 2 cups of the marinara, the chopped basil, and ½ cup of the mozzarella to the pasta. Gently stir to combine.
- It’s assembly time! Spread 1 cup of additional marinara sauce inside a 9×13″ baker. Top with half of the pasta mixture, and gently spread it into an even layer. Evenly sprinkle the roasted cauliflower on top, then dollop 1 cup of the cottage cheese over the cauliflower (it doesn’t need to be spread into an even layer), followed by ½ cup of the mozzarella.
- Top the mozzarella with the remaining pasta. Then sprinkle the roasted peppers and onion on top, dollop the remaining cup of ricotta on top, then dollop the remaining cup of marinara on that, then sprinkle the remaining cheese all over.
-
Place a clean, rimmed baking sheet on the lower oven rack to catch any drippings. Place the ziti, uncovered, on top of the baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes, then transfer to the upper rack for 2 to 5 more minutes until the cheese is deeply golden, if desired.
-
Remove the baker from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving (trust me). Sprinkle freshly torn basil on top, slice with a sharp knife, and serve.
Notes
Recipe adapted from my lentil baked ziti and Allison Roman’s baked ziti.
Make it gluten free: Substitute sturdy gluten-free pasta (such as a corn and quinoa blend).
Advance preparation: You could roast the vegetables up to 3 days in advance. You can also go ahead and assemble the whole thing and refrigerate until baking. It’s probably a good candidate for freezing before baking, too. Please let me know if you try.
Dairy free/vegan note: I’m not sure if this recipe is a good candidate to make vegan, since the cheese offers both volume and structure. My best guess would be to double the recipe for my vegan sour cream (also available in my cookbook, page 217) and use 2 cups instead of the cottage cheese. Omit the mozzarella and use all of the tomato sauce for the final layer. Serve the lasagna with a dollop of additional sour cream on top or, better yet, basil pesto.
Vegetable enthusiast. Dog lover. I'm probably making a big mess in my Kansas City kitchen right now. 
Vanessa
This was DELICIOUS! My husband the carnivore raved about it! So happy there are plenty of leftovers since it’s just the 2 of us and can’t wait to make it again for a bigger crowd. Do you reheat in the oven or microwave?
★★★★★
Kate
Hi Vanessa! You can reheat in the microwave. I’m so happy you loved it! Thanks for your review.
Ali M
Hi Kate,
I am an avid follower of tour blog. We cook from it on almost a weekly basis and many of my husband’s favorite recipes are from your blog. We also have your cool book. I see that this recipe is likely to be freezer friendly, as is your lentil ziti recipe. Do you have a list somewhere of freezer friendly recipes that you like? They could be from your blog or somewhere else. We are expecting our first child and would like to get the freezer stocked with healthy meals!
Kate
Hi Ali! Thank you for your note and congratulations! How exciting. I do not have a list yet, but I’m slowly working through my popular casserole dishes to provide in-depth freezing instructions. We’re getting into the warmer months so soups may not sound appealing, but almost all of my soups freeze very well. You might consider some freezer-friendly items that you can freeze in individual portions, like my freezer breakfast burritos. Lindsay of Pinch of Yum came out with a great resource before she had a baby. Hope this helps a bit!
Rachel
thank you for sharing this link!! We are expecting our first child in December! (Also, prepping and freezing!) We LOVE your recipes too. My husband isn’t a vegetarian, but every time I make one of your recipes he’s SO happy! :) I made this and shared with the neighbors last week as well- they had RAVE reviews too!!
wondering if anyone has prepped and frozen this entre? Or should i bake all the way through and then freeze?
★★★★★
Kate
Congratulations! I’m glad you both are enjoying my recipes. I haven’t tried to freeze this one and am hesitant as I find recipes like this can release some water. If you do try it, I would likely bake, cool and then freeze. It may have some extra water once to bake it again. Let me know!
Mansi
Hi Kate!
Recipe turned out to be very nice! I had to use 16 oz of pasta instead of 8 oz.
I skipped Marinara sauce layer on top layer. Love your recipes!
★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Mansi! I appreciate your review.
Madhu Mittal
Hi Kathryne,
My daughter in law made this baked ziti yesterday for our family dinner, it came out absolutely delicious and everyone loved it ! I had to asked for the recipe so she just forwarded me the recipe. I have read many of recipes and always liked them but not sure if I had made any. From now on I will try them and will let you know.
★★★★★
Kate
A great family meal! Thank you for sharing, Madhu.
Melanie
I made this for dinner tonight and it was delicious! I used your home made marinara recipe (added a splash of red wine) and didn’t see the note about doubling it, but it still turned out great with half the sauce. I roasted broccoli, yellow onion, and yellow squash. Love your book and recipes.
★★★★★
Andreia Santos
Thank you so much for this recipe! I cooked it for my host family ( I am an Aupair) and everyone loved it!! It was sooo yummy and fresh! It took me a couple hours to cook it because I also made the Marinara sauce from scratch but it was worth it! It was amazing. Thank you!
★★★★★
Janet Miller
Could I use 16oz. pasta in this???
Kate
Hi Janet, you can but you would want to increase the other ingredients too as the ratios would change to pasta for the same result.
Janet Miller
Thank you!!!!
Shira
Making this for the second time! Your recipes have been my go-to for me and my two teens (all vegetarian)! We all loved the black bean enchiladas also, and I have made the lentil soup at least 5 times. :)
Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you all have loved it, Shira! Thanks for sharing.
k8b51
I’ve made this several times to rave reviews. Tonight’s veggies are zucchini, yellow squash, and red & yellow bell peppers with spinach mixed in with the penne/cottage cheese. Homemade marinara. I used shredded Jack cheese between the layers and topped it with mozzarella pearls and a sprinkling of good imported Parmesan. Fabulous and cheesy to the utmost.
★★★★★
Belle Henry
I’m planning to make this for my cauliflower-hating boyfriend, and your substitutions sound delicious! How did you incorporate the spinach?
Kate
Hi Belle! I hope it goes over well. You can just layer it in one of the layers. I suggest toward the bottom.
K8B51
I cooked and cooled fresh spinach, wrung out every bit of liquid, chopped it finely and mixed it into the cottage cheese. Frozen spinach, well drained would probably work too.
★★★★★
Susan
I was worried that this meatless dish would not satisfy my carnivore husband, but it is filled with flavor & he loved it! Putting it in my meal rotation! (I used sweet potatoes and garlic along with the cauliflower, red peppers and onion.
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful to hear, Susan! I love that it was a hit.
Heather
We replace the cauliflower layer with browned sweet Italian sausage and we use an orange pepper along with 2 zucchini and 2 summer squash for the roasted veggie layer. That’s enough filling for two pans. I use one and freeze one.
Becky Loeffert
I just checked out this recipe and will make it this week for a family gathering. I will try and send a further comment after we have eaten it. I just wanted to thank you for the great directions such as mentioning rack placement and oven temperature. Your recipe directions are very detailed and I very much appreciate the time you took to share them. Looking forward to trying your recipe. Thank you.
Kate
You’re welcome, Becky! I’m happy you thought it was simple to follow and importantly delicious.
petra
Thanks for your great recipes! I love all your stuff! I’m confused about the mozzerella. If I’m using store bought shredded cheese is is 8 oz or 16 oz total? The ingredient list is confusing. Thanks for clarifying!
Kate
Hi! You will need two packed ups, or 8 oz of cheese. I hope that helps!
Izabella
This is the most satisfying vegetarian baked ziti I’ve tried! I would have never thought to throw cauliflower and cottage cheese into a ziti and turns out the flavors mesh together deliciously! I used Newman’s Own tomato basil sauce instead of fresh basil leaves and it turned out great. This is my third recipe so far I’ve tried from you and they have all been AMAZING. Thank you!
★★★★★
Stella
Tried this recipe last night subbing in eggplant, morells, zucchini, red bell pepper and onion. I doubled the recipe and it was FANTASTIC! I also used low fat probiotic cottage cheese. It was a crowd pleaser for sure and now there are tons left over. Super satisfying! Thanks!
★★★★★
Lori Acee
This was a HUGE hit with the athletic guys in my home!
We are trying to eat more veggies, no white flour and very low or no sugar. Always on the lookout for alternate meat proteins too.
I used sweet potato instead of cauliflower and cottage cheese instead of ricotta. What a great recipe! Love, love. It was gone in literally 15 min.!!
★★★★★
Linsey
Second recipe of yours I tried. Both turned out great. On this one I did do 1% cottage cheese and it worked just great. We love onions so I will be using 2 onions. Maybe even some garlic next time too.
Definitely recommend. A healthy pasta dish is difficult to find, but I finally found one.
★★★★
Amanda Panning
Made this on a rainy night. Perfection! Roasted vegetables give the best flavor. My husband loved it!!!
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! That’s great to hear, Amanda. Thank you for your review!
La
Made this for Father’s Day dinner last night and it turned out SO good! I added some morning star sausage but other than that followed the recipe exactly. I will definitely be making this again!
★★★★★
Rachel
This was great!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Rachel!
Lakshmi
I made this for Father’s Day last Sunday. Also made the Marinara Sauce using your recipe. It was a hit all around and my teens are not easy to please. It was super yummy. Didn’t know cottage cheese can taste so good in a casserole.
I had left over marinara sauce (from the 2x recipe), and mozzarella cheese (from 16 Oz. block) which I used next day to make baguette pizza.
Elsa
Love it! This is the first time I’ve had cottage cheese in maybe my whole life and I am surprised to find that I really like it, so thank you for the encouragement to try it! This dish has all sorts of tasty textures and was not complicated to put together. I used broccoli and a green bell pepper instead of cauliflower and red bell pepper, and added oregano and red pepper flakes to 2 cans of tomato sauce as my “marinara”. Super good!
★★★★★
May
Excellent recipe! I didn’t have exactly the same veggies. I roasted a small diced zucchini, summer squash & mushrooms for the first veggie layer. Small yellow pepper, jalapeño & onion for the 2nd roasted veggie layer. Our gluten free corn pasta held up ok, might boil it for an even shorter time next time. Def making this again though!
★★★★★
Marcia
I LOVE this recipe! Made it for my small birthday gathering during lockdown with neighbors, but I had leftovers which I love to have! Thanks for the great recipe, made twice since and I love the others I’ve tried, happy to have found your site!!
★★★★★
Carey
Kate, this is an amazing recipe. So delicious and easy! I wanted to say thank you, I have made SO many of your recipes. My family loves them so much and we feel good (not bloated or stuffed) after eating them.
I have your cookbook as well, which I love. I am now making at least 1 recipe of yours a week and couldn’t be happier. Please continue to bring whole food, fresh meals to our families. We SO appreciate them. Let us know how we can return the favor and help you.
Thank you, Kate!
★★★★★
Olyn
This was amazing! My husband and I both loved it, and it was a great healthier and more budget friendly alternative to lasagna!
★★★★★
Ashley
Thank you for this healthy recipe! I did freeze it before baking and the result after cooking was a kind of watery ziti. It was still delicious though!
★★★★
Kate
Hi Ashely! Thank you for sharing. That has been my experience too with recipes like this if non baking and then freezing. But, I’m glad you were still able to enjoy it.
Carolyn
Loved this. I think I could squeeze in even more veggies and have it still be creamy and tasty. Even reheating as leftovers didn’t try out at all and remained delicious tasting!
★★★★★
Jennifer
I don’t normally go for the baked pasta dishes at Italian restaurants, as I find them too rich and cheese-laden. This, however, is absolutely fabulous – not really all that cheesy at all! In fact, I was short about 1/2 cup of mozzarella, and it turned out perfect, in my opinion.
I opted to make your homemade marinara sauce, as it’s easy enough to throw together and let simmer before getting started on the veggies. And I’m glad I did. I think your marina is lighter and fresher than any jarred variety I can find here in Ireland (and probably, back in the states too). The cauliflower is a really good “meat” replacement for texture, and the roasted flavor is delicious. One difference is that I used fusili pasta, as the local shop I rely on didn’t have any other whole wheat options. I do think fusili works great, with all its coils picking up the bits and sauce very well. (I also like using fusili in your roasted vegetable ratatouille.)
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy you ended up tryin it, Jennifer! Thank you for taking the time to provide such a detailed comment.
Jennifer
Hi Kate!
I just made this for like the 10th time and winged it with a couple adjustments based on what I had on hand or forgot. Enough to let you know… I forgot to buy mozzerella, so I used up about a cup’s worth of Emmental and Parmagiano Reggiano instead; and, I threw in about a 1/2 cup of red lentils to try to add a bit more protein and fiber. And, it all came out super delicious! Clearly this is a versatile recipe, and very easy to bring together.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you were able to bring it all together! Thank you for sharing, Jennifer.
Clare
I used cottage cheese and gluten free noodles and did everything else as written. My husband, sister and I ate the entire pan at dinner last night. Shameful, I know. But it’s that good.
★★★★★
Melissa
I made this as a half recipe in an 8×8 pan (since it’s only my husband and I) and it was delicious! Loved using broccoli in this!
Rebecca
This was divine! The only thing I would do differently for kids is mix in the ricotta instead of mozzarella in the first step.
Yum!
★★★★★
Holly Bologna
Can this be assembled a day ahead of time then baked or maybe bake half way and freeze for later?
Kate
Hi Holly! I haven’t tried freezing this one yet. Sometimes with recipes like this there is a lot of liquid that settles from the ingredients when frozen. But, if you try it let me know!
Bizz
Oh my gosh, deeee-licious. Love the roasted vegetables snuck in there. We used cottage cheese and doubled the onion. Can’t wait to have it again! Thank you for so many fabulous recipes. We love your flavor combinations.
★★★★★
Anita Richner
We don’t like cottage cheese or ricotta cheese, how can we substitute this?
Kate
Hi Anita! I would suggest looking at the vegan note options. You could try my vegan sour cream here.
Kate
I think I might try making a tofu ricotta to use in this, think that will work?
Kate
That’s creative! I’m not sure without trying it. Let me know what you think.
Melanie
My boyfriend and I have made your baked ziti 3 or 4 times now since the sprint and LOVE it. The roasted veggies create such a delicious flavor. Last night, after a long week of online teaching for me, my boyfriend made this for us, and we added broccoli to the roasted veggies — great addition for anyone wanting to make it more veggie centric. We use part skim ricotta instead of cottage cheese too. Such a perfect date night comfort meal!
Side note: We also love your lentil soup and black bean, quinoa tacos!
★★★★★
Diane
It’s a rainy chilly day here in the northeast and so I decided to make this veggie ziti!
Absolutely delicious!
Thanks so much!
Rebecca
Yum! Ultimate comfort food…we all loved it.
★★★★★
Kate
Yes, this one is a great comfort food! I appreciate your review, Rebecca.
Amy
Made this vegan using tofu ricotta from one of your other recipes, highly recommend!
Kate
Thank you, Amy! I’m happy to hear that.
Marcus B
Great recipe! My wife is celiac so I used gluten free penne pasta. I used zucchini, squash, mushroom, and onion because we love those veggies in anything. Also did freshly grated mozzarella and provolone on top of the layer of ricotta cheese (we are a cheesy couple) Followed the recipe other then that and turned out amazing! Thanks so much for sharing. We will definitely mix and match and do it again.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Marcus! I’m happy to hear it was a hit with you ad your wife!
Cynthia
Yummy good and very easy. It’s so nice to have a recipe that doesn’t require a lot of chopping!
★★★★★
Sara O
Delicious! I did double the pasta to satisfy my kids’ palates, and since I didn’t have ricotta ended up roasting some zucchini half moons as well to maintain moisture. We loved the richer flavor of roasted veggies, great idea!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m happy it was a hit and you were able to make it work with what you had! Thank you for your review, Sara.
Thom
Made this last night and it was excellent but I think more than 8 oz pasta is needed and maybe that offsets the overdose of ricotta which was delicious but too much?
Love the roasted veggies as the base of the dish!
Kate
Thanks, Thom! Sounds like our preferences differ a bit. Hope you’ll tinker with this one to make it just the way you like it!
Sedona Jarachovic
I am a college freshman and my roommate and I decided to stay on campus for Thanksgiving. This was my first holiday away from my family and I was missing home. I was also missing my dads homecooked meals that I grew up with. My roommate and I took action in order to still have a great Thanksgiving. We decided to try and recreate this ziti, and when I say try I mean we were determined. The end result was amazing! The ziti was absolutely delicious, fun to make, and a great meatless alternative to thanksgiving dinner. I am so glad I came across this website and will certainly look for more recipes here.
★★★★★
Smitha
This was super yummy! The cottage cheese was a lovely addition. My daughter has now started baking and she loves your blog. We have tried many recipes and they have always turned out good!
Natasha
This is a keeper for sure. The family plus my daughter’s boyfriend loved it. Thank you
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear that, Natasha! I appreciate your review.
lisa
Would love to make this in a slow cooker, come home from skiing, and it is waiting. What adjustments should I make?
Kate
Hi Lisa, I’m not sure you will be able to get the same results in a slow cooker. You could roast the vegetables before hand and then assemble + bake when you get back. Or, it does make delicious leftovers!
Gabby
I didn’t read the recipe carefully enough ♀️ I roasted all the veggies together and just had two layers of everything mixed. I used eggplant, mushrooms, onions, red peppers. I also only had one jar of sauce. Still turned out great! I think a whole extra jar of sauce would have been too saucy for me but an extra half would be good
★★★★★
Pearl
I highly recommend this recipe! I substituted the cauliflower for eggplant, zucchini, and mushrooms, and it was delicious. I will definitely be making this again.
★★★★★
Danielle Eileen Hart
So delicious. I made a whole dish for my family and was shocked (though I probably shouldn’t have been) that there were no leftovers! Thanks again, Kate!
★★★★★
Jessica
I love this recipe, it’s delicious! I’ve made it 3 times in the last month and a half. I opted for roasted broccoli instead of onion. First time using cottage cheese and it was great!
Kate, I just want you to know how much I enjoy your website, recipes and cookbook. Thank you!!
★★★★★
Kate
I love it! Thank you for sharing, Jessica.
Daphne Chalmers
I love your blog and all of your recipes! Just made this and had it for dinner, it tasted amazing! The only problem was that it didn’t stay together, when I took it out of the pan the pasta kinda just mixed together so it looked like I was eating pasta with red sauce and veggies, any ideas why? Possible I need to bake it longer or let it cool longer?
Thank you!!!
★★★★★
Nicole
I found this recipe to be a lot of work for a disappointing and fairly bland result. I made the homemade marinara and it was fine but didn’t add any flavour. I didn’t like the texture of the cottage cheese (I have seen in other recipes it is blended and that may help). I have enjoyed other recipes from this site but this one was a big disappointment to me and I am surprised by all the positive revews.
★★
Kate
I’m sorry you didn’t love this one, Nicole. Thank you for the feedback!
GJ
Made this last night and it was AMAZING! I followed the directions exactly, the cottage cheese, fresh basil, and pre-roasted veggies make the dish! It is so flavorful and decadent. My husband commented that it was so “gourmet!” I made ahead and assembled in the morning and cooked right before dinner. Will make this again and again.
★★★★★
Myrto
This was so good! I made it for me and my boyfriend on Valentine’s Day, along with a modified version of your Italian chopped salad. I couldn’t find basil in the store, but it was still delicious without it. I love that it satisfies your pasta craving, but it’s still veggie-packed – the cauliflower works really well in the dish.
Thank you for all your amazing recipes!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome! This would be a delicious date night dinner.
Hannah C.
This recipe is amazing! My husband is not a big veggie eater normally, but he loves it, too! We have made it for both sides of our family and, also, made it for our neighbors to help them with meal prep. Everyone always raves about it!
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great! I find this recipe is enjoyed by a lot, even those who don’t love veggies. Thank you for your review!
Natalie
Was a lot of work for a very bland outcome. I was quite disappointed. The sauce was mediocre and I really did not enjoy the texture of the cottage cheese ( I would recommend blending it prior as some similar recipes recommend)
★★
Kate
Hi Natalie, I’m sorry you were disappointed. Which brand of marinara did you use?
Betsy
I made this earlier this week and it was delicious! I ended up roasting a lot of vegetables the night before and saved some for this dish-it was filling and so good! All 3 of my kids devoured it!
★★★★★
kathryn
Thank you for this delicious and easy recipe. Used jar sauce with roast cauliflower, capisicum and onion.
Husband and teen loved it as well. The leftovers were delicious reheated.
Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Christine
Hi, If I make this recipe using your homemade marinara, should I do anything different with the marinara recipe? Is it okay to cook in the pot and then put the marinara in the oven with the rest of the dish?
Kate
Hi! I love that idea. You will want the same quantity as directed here, so I would suggest making a double batch as I believe that comes to 2 cups, when you need 4 cups here. Be sure to tell me what you think!
Amelia
Thank you for this amazing recipe! I didn’t change a thing and it was perfect. I’m always looking for recipes that will please everyone in the family and this one did just that! It has been added to the top of my favorites list. I love to make your marinara sauce, but I decided to keep it simple and go with Rao’s. Being able to use a delicious store-bought sauce made this recipe even easier. And who knew cottage cheese could be so delicious? I look forward to making this again! Thank you for also giving such detailed, easy to follow instructions.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m excited you loved it as written, Amelia! I appreciate your comment and review.
Paige
One of my all time favorite recipes! So easy, nutritious, and delicious!! I make this ahead of time and put it in the freezer. When I bake it I take it out and let it thaw on the counter or in the fridge before popping it in the oven. Sometimes the middle needs a little longer so I just cover the top with foil so the cheese on top doesn’t burn. Works like a charm and is so great for planning ahead!!
★★★★★
Leah
So delicious! Do you think it could work with a legume pasta? Like chickpea or lentil?
★★★★★
Kate
Hi! Sure, I have made it with chickpea pasta before and didn’t mind the results.
Leah
So delicious! Do you think it could work with a legume pasta?
★★★★★
Meredith Godfrey
This is AMAZING! I’ve made it a handful of times over the past couple of months and everyone who has tried it absolutely loves it. Delicious.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you, Meredith!
kmills
This was sooo good! A definite keeper! My husband and I both liked it and found it to be filling. I made it with low-fat cottage cheese. Also only roasted the vegetables for 25 min since we were going to bake it for another 30 after. We also made the recommended Italian side salad and ate that while we were waiting for the dish to finish up in the oven. Delicious! Thanks so much for posting this recipe! It was a little time consuming but there will def be some left for tomorrow as well. A little red wine on the side…perfect!
★★★★★
Kate
Wonderful! Thank you for your review
Chasady Quinn
Such a great recipe!!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you! I’m happy you enjoyed it.
Deb
I was researching online for a healthy pasta dish to make for my children for dinner and found your recipe. I immediately ordered the required ingredients from Whole Foods online to be delivered through Amazon prime next day. Even when preparing the meal and making all the layers wow how beautiful. My kids genuinely loved the meal and asked for seconds. Honestly had to hold them back from the third serving. Thank you.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing, Deb! I’m happy to hear that.
Deborah Schlef
How come you blend the cottage cheese in the lasagna recipe and not this one? And how come you don’t season the cottage cheese (not sure what seasoning) before dolloping.
Kate
Hi, This is meant to be a quicker option than my lasagna recipe and found it delicious. I hope you try it and enjoy it, Deborah!
Kris
Normally (always) I cannot stand the story before the recipe, but your writing is great! To the point, quick, and actually very helpful. Thank you! Now I’m off to try the recipe … :-)
Kate
I’m happy to hear you like it, Kris!
Vicky East
Not a cauliflower eating family so I subbed in zucchini instead. Made the homemade marinara sauce from your website. The dish was yummy. I halved everything as i didn’t want any leftovers this time. Served it with a green tossed salad and my homemade wholewheat French baguette and nice glass of white. Delicious. Will definitely make again.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s great, Vicky! Thank you for your review.
Kim
Amazing!! This is delicious. I made it early in the day. Baked it at dinner time. Perfect
Thanks for this recipe. I. Have already shared
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Kim! Thanks for your review.
Erika
Thank you for posting this delicious recipe! I’ve made this three times. The. First two times I stuck to the recipe but tonight did some variations. I love that this recipe of yours is so customizable. Most veggies are compatible. Tonight I did yellow squash mixed with the cauliflower, and did an extra bell pepper. This recipe is a total crowd pleaser in my house! Thank you again!!
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Erika!
Anna
Delicious! This is my third time making this dish and I absolutely love it. I added some yellow squash in addition to the peppers, cauliflower, and onions. Thank You :)
★★★★★
Kate
You’re welcome, Anna.
sue a warner
I took your tip on Cottage Cheese from your Lasagna recipe…Whip it in processor :) its better than ricotta..I threw some spinach leaves on layers, just because… Thanks for this awesome recipe!
★★★★★
Kate
Sound delicious! Thank you for sharing how you made this your own variation, Sue.
Eileen
I really like this recipe! I made it with diced zucchini roasted along with the cauliflower and shredded spinach mixed in with the ricotta to squeeze in some more vegetables. Very tasty and a way to enjoy a baked pasta without being too carb-ed out.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing how you changed it up, Eileen!
Kelly Stone
Now we know what we are eating Saturday night. Thank you for the delicious inspiration! Be well.
Samantha E.
Baked Ziti is my all time fav comfort food – so there was a high bar! I must say this came out so delicious! I actually halved the recipe because it was just for myself & leftovers, and had no issues. I also added a touch of italian seasoning to the veggies, and it gave them a little something extra!
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing! I appreciate your review.
Nancy
I used about six ounces of tofu blended with soft goat cheese, salt, garlic, oregano and an egg instead of cottage cheese and it is delicious. Also made in two 8 x8 inch pans and froze one before baking. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
Carlotta
Hi Kate – as usual, another wonderful recipe. My husband is raving too. I made the recipe as directed but added a handful of steamed broccoli that I had in the frig from the night before, an extra orange pepper, and I made a bit more marinara from scratch with San Marzano crushed tomatoes. It was so fresh and – for pasta – light. Very flavorful. The veggies caramelized perfectly. Will entertain with this dish for sure. Thank you so much!!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you loved it, Carlotta! Tank you for your review.
Tipismom
First recipe I made from your site, and family actually asked for it to be in our rotation- that almost never happens. Amazed at how good this comes out with such a simple ingredient list. Yes the veg prep takes a little time, but so worth it, and you are almost guaranteed leftovers for the next night. We do use cottage cheese like you suggested and our marinate is only 25oz, we just added 1 cup in step 5. Has turned out great all 3 times to far. Thank you!
★★★★★
Kate
I love that! Thank you for your review.
Tipismom
PS: I can’t stop making this, and wanted to add that we used a gluten free brown rice- quinoa- cauliflower fusilli pasta last time (because it was in my pantry needing to be used) and same amazing results. Thanks again!
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you love it!
Virginia R Arrick
My husband love this and have me to make it every week do now I make a larger pan and freeze it for when he want it.
★★★★★
Kriss Gouveia
Your recipes look great, but I don’t see how to print directly from your website.
Kate
Hi Kriss, usually I have that option. Right now it’s not working, but hoping to have it fixed soon!
reeve
Absolutely delicious! I was surprised by how much flavor came out of this simple recipe. Made it for a birthday dinner, and now making again for a friend to return a favor.
★★★★★
Kate
That’s a great idea, Reeve! Thank you for your review.
Ilona Hartman
Congratulations on your beautiful Baby Girl.
She will keep you smiling all day.
Kate
Thank you!
Jane
This was a delicious and filling (Canadian) Thanksgiving recipe! I will make this again!
★★★★★
Kate
Great to hear, Jane!
Deb
I made this exactly according to your recipe. Like you suggested, I did use sweet potato instead of onion, cottage cheese and Rao’s jar sauce. Both my husband and 21 year old son LOVED it!!! Thank you for another great recipe!
Deb
★★★★★
Kate
Hooray! That’s great to hear. Thank you for sharing, Deb.
Melanie
I am planning to try this recipe tomorrow night for dinner. Looks great, so am excited. The only thing, my son does not like red pepper. Any other veggie suggestions to go with instead?
Thanks!
★★★★★
Kate
You can add any vegetable you like here. Increase the cauliflower if you want!
Bitty
I have made this several times now, and even though hubby and I aren’t vegetarian, this is delicious and satisfying. I typically make it in 2 loaf pans instead of one big pan. We eat one and freeze the other. I have never used cauliflower, but have used many combinations of roasted veggies, usually eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onions, carrots, and sometimes mushrooms. I’ve used ricotta or cottage cheese and it was delicious with either. Thanks for a go-to recipe for me.
★★★★★
Kate
Thank you for sharing! I’m glad you have added your own spin on it. Sounds delicious!
Elliot
We’ve been making this recipe by the book for over a year, obsessed. However recently I spontaneously added an entire bulb of garlic, by simply roasting mashed cloves in with the roast veges and then mixing them through before the final bake. Absolute game changer, highly recommend. Good for warding off vampires too
★★★★★
Bev
Loved your recipe! The taste of the cauliflower and pepper was amazing, but cauliflower was quite raw so we fried it in a pan on the stove to soften it a little more. Also we mixed the cottage cheese with 1/2 cup mozzarella, egg and parsley. Love that everything is free of addictive, thank you for posting such a lovely recipe!
★★★
Kate
I’m sorry to hear it was raw. Did you cut is small enough? How long did you bake it for?
Linda
There’s no way this calls for 8 oz of pasta. As a few commented, you need 16 ounces (the size of most packages) and you don’t need to adjust. That’s plenty of sauce and cheese for the full pound.
Julie Galea
This was incredible, the combination was spot on. A keeper!
Sarah
This recipe is fantastic! I’ve made it with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and zucchini and also with cauliflower, sausage, and onion. My husband is obsessed and the entire meal has worked great for my blood sugar (we use just a little whole wheat pasta) as I have GD and need to watch my diet. So glad to be able to eat baked pasta right now!
★★★★★
Shelley Bacon
This looks like an amazing recipe! I have selected as the main dish for our 100 or so guests at our annual fundraising dinner on December 4. Would you be able to give me suggestions for successfully increasing the recipe to fill a disposable catering pan approximately 19 9/16 in x 11 5/8 in x 3 3/16 in? I believe that is about 8.5 quarts. Thank you! (Feel free to contact me directly via email.)
Kate
Hi Shelley, I wish I could be of more help! I’m not use to making food for that many people. I hope it’s hit!
Imani Pierre
I am honestly SO happy to have stumbled across this recipe for the holidays! I made it yesterday for Thanksgiving and it was a hit :)
Thank you for sharing the recipe! I’m looking forward to finding more on your site.
★★★★★
Kate
I’m glad you did and that it was a big hit! Thank you for sharing, Imani.