Ingredients
1 16-oz package ziti pasta
Neutral oil as needed to cook
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 lb lean ground beef
1 ½ tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp sea salt
Cracked black pepper, as needed
1 cup shredded zucchini
½ cup shredded carrots
1 ½ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella
For sauce:
1 24.5 oz jar marinara sauce
1 cup cottage cheese
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400. Spray a large (9×13 or similar) baking dish with cooking spray. Cook ziti in salted water according to package directions (cook to al dente, do not over-cook as it will continue to cook in the oven). Drain and add to casserole dish (if pasta is done early, spread over a sheet pan to prevent sticking).
2. To prepare beef, heat a drizzle of neutral oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until turning translucent. Stir in garlic for 15-20 seconds, followed by beef. Season with Italian seasoning, sea salt and a few cracks of black pepper. Cook until almost no pink remains.
3. Add in zucchini and carrots and cook another 2-3 minutes until beef is cooked through and zucchini and carrots have softened slightly. Add beef mixture to baking dish.
4. While beef is cooking, prepare sauce by blending marinara with cottage cheese and parmesan. Add to baking dish and stir well to combine. Top with shredded mozzarella and place in oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until center is hot and cheese is bubbly.