Craving comfort food but want to pack in extra vegetables? This Vegetarian Baked Ziti delivers all the cheesy, satisfying flavors you love while sneaking in plenty of nutritious veggies. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknight dinners!
This recipe transforms ordinary pasta into a veggie-packed masterpiece by layering ziti with roasted bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini, then smothering everything in rich pasta sauce and three delicious cheeses. It’s healthy comfort food that even meat-lovers will devour!
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and easy – only 30 minutes from start to finish
- Veggie-packed – bell peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini add nutrition and flavor
- Triple cheese goodness – cottage cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan create the perfect texture
- Family-friendly – serves 6 and appeals to all ages
- Make-ahead option – assemble earlier and bake when ready
Smart Cooking Tips:
- Roast vegetables first to remove excess moisture and concentrate flavors
- Use small-curd cottage cheese for the best texture
- Don’t skip the oregano – it ties all the Italian flavors together
- Fresh basil on top adds a beautiful finishing touch
Perfect for Special Diets:
This recipe naturally accommodates vegetarian diets while being hearty enough to satisfy everyone at your table. The combination of pasta, vegetables, and cheese provides complete nutrition in every serving.
All ingredients for this satisfying dinner are available at The Greensted in downtown Zumbrota! From fresh local vegetables to quality pasta and cheeses, we have everything you need for this family favorite.
Recipe credit: Jar of Lemons
Vegetarian Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 8 oz ziti or penne pasta
- 4 cups pasta sauce
- 1 bell pepper medium
- 10 oz mushrooms
- 1 zucchini small
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup 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!