Baked Pasta / Ziti

Baked Pasta is perfect for potlucks and taking dinner in.  So much easier than Lasagna.
This recipe was originally meatless.

I got this recipe from my super good friend Jane Huff.

1 12 oz. package of Ziti, Mostaccioli or similar tube pasta
4 cups grated mozzarella cheese
1 lb. carton cottage cheese or 15 oz. carton ricotta cheese or half of each
½ lb ground beef or 1 cup of browned ground beef (cooked with chopped onion) (opt)
2 15 oz cans tomato sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, dehydrated or 2 cloves

2 teaspoon parsley flakes (opt)
salt and pepper
Parmesan cheese (opt)

Brown ground beef, drain off grease.  Cook pasta using package instructions.  Do not over cook. Drain well and stir in 2 cups mozzarella cheese and cottage cheese.  Pour one can (save can) tomato sauce into 9x13pan, stir in cooked ground beef.  Sprinkle half of the spices over sauce and stir. (1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/4 teaspoon dehydrated minced garlic, 1 teaspoon parsley flakes, salt and pepper)  Layer on top of sauce the pasta and cheese mixture.  Open second can of tomato sauce pour half of sauce into saved can.  Add remaining half of the spices to one can, pour back and forth from cans to mix.  Pour sauce over pasta mixture, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and remaining grated mozzarella cheese.  Bake 30 minutes at 350.

Baked Pasta is freezer friendly.  If freezing, cook pasta 2 minutes less than the shortest cooking time in package directions.

 

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