Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a timeless comfort food that the whole family can enjoy.
I made the meat sauce with lean ground beef but you can also customize it to your liking. Ground turkey or chicken would work great too.
This is a delicious meal that’s also great for leftovers.
The Ingredients
Lean Ground Beef: I used 96% lean ground beef since it’s zero points with the current plan.
Tomato Sauce, Crushed Tomatoes, and Tomato Paste: These ingredients helped to make a homemade pasta sauce and they’re all zero points.
Making your own pasta sauce helps to keep the points low since there is no added sugar.
Ziti: Pasta is where the majority of the points come from. I used a food scale to make sure the point count was accurate.
Using 10 oz. of uncooked pasta added 29 points to the recipe.
Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese: Using part-skim instead of full-fat mozzarella reduces the overall fat content of the dish, allowing you to indulge without the guilt.
Part-skim mozzarella is ideal for baked ziti because it melts well and provides that gooey, stretchy texture that we all love.
Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper were used to season the pasta sauce.
Grated Parmesan Cheese: I used 1 tablespoon to the pasta sauce. I always add it to my pasta sauce for an extra boost of flavor.
Onions and Fresh Garlic: Both were used to season the ground beef while cooking.
Click here to track the points on your Weight Watchers app.
How to Make Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Bring a pot of water to a boil, cook and drain the ziti according to the directions on the package. Make sure you don’t overcook the ziti since it will also be baking in the oven.
Add the ground beef to a pan. Break it up into small pieces then add the onion and garlic. Drain any grease.
Measure 1 tablespoon of tomato paste and stir that into the ground beef. Pour in the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes.
Season the sauce with garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Stir in the cooked pasta then pour the mixture into the casserole dish. Top it with the shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Serving Suggestions
Adding a garnish to your baked ziti just before serving can add a burst of fresh flavor. Chopped fresh parsley or basil sprinkled on top brings a pop of color and a hint of brightness to each bite.
If you like a bit of heat, a light dusting of crushed red pepper flakes can also be a nice touch.
Pairing your ziti with a crisp green salad is a great way to add freshness and contrast. Choose a mix of leafy greens like romaine, arugula, and spinach, and toss them with cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions, and a light vinaigrette.
Steamed or roasted vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, or green beans can add both color and nutrients to your plate. Drizzle them with a bit of olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper for a simple yet delicious accompaniment.
Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 10 oz. uncooked ziti
- 1 lb. 96% lean ground beef
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 29 oz. tomato sauce
- 15 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a pot of water to a boil, cook and drain the ziti according to the directions on the package.
- Add the ground beef to a pan. Break it up into small pieces then add the onion and garlic. Drain any grease.
- Stir the tomato paste in with the ground beef. Pour in the tomato sauce and crushed tomatoes.
- Season the sauce with Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the cooked pasta then pour the mixture into the casserole dish. Top it with the part-skim mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Here are some more Weight Watchers friendly recipes:
Chicken and Spaghetti (Ten Dollar Meal)
If you’re looking for some zero point recipes, check out my post 20 Zero Point Recipes or my post 20 (More) Zero Point Recipes. Both are filled with delicious recipes that won’t cost you a single point! They’re perfect for days when you’re running low on points, or trying to save up points for a night out.
If you’re looking for dessert recipes you can visit 50 Weight Watchers Freestyle Desserts. It’s filled with delicious desserts perfect for Weight Watchers!
Are you looking for a meal plan that’s Weight Watchers friendly? I have over 300 meal plans that you can choose from and I post a new one each week. Click here to check them out!
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Can you please publish the WW points rather than just the link? I prefer to look at these recipes on my computer and we can no longer track the recipes from computer, has to be on phone app. I don’t like looking at these on the phone.
Hi there! The reason I don’t publish the points is because Weight Watchers changes the plan every two years. I used to have to go back and update every recipe so the information was accurate. With hundreds of recipes published it became quite overwhelming.