Baked ziti with summer squash

6
Points®
Total Time
36 min
Prep
6 min
Cook
30 min
Serves
5
Difficulty
Easy
We put an American twist on the Italian classic and came out with a delicious taste. You also won't believe that this baked ziti comes together in less than 40 minutes. It's impressive and satisfying enough to serve for any dinner party. This recipe calls for using homemade marinara sauce, but you can definitely use your favorite store-bought brand in a pinch or if you're short on time. Two kinds of cheese, ricotta and mozzarella, nicely complement the yellow summer squash and zucchini. This ziti is a wonderful meatless entrée that you'll find yourself making again and again whenever fresh squash is in season.

Ingredients

Uncooked whole wheat pasta

4 oz, ziti or penne (2 cups)

Olive oil

2 tsp

Uncooked yellow summer squash

1 medium, thinly sliced

Uncooked zucchini

1 small, thinly sliced

Garlic

2 clove(s), minced

Home made marinara sauce

2 cup(s)

Fat free ricotta cheese

2 cup(s)

Shredded fat free mozzarella cheese

1 cup(s)

Instructions

  1. Cook the ziti according to the package directions, omitting the salt if desired. Drain.
  2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking dish with nonstick spray.
  3. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the squash, zucchini, and garlic; cook, stirring, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cooked ziti and the marinara sauce.
  4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and top evenly with the ricotta and mozzarella. Bake until heated through and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Yields generous 1 1⁄2 cups per serving.