Description
Hearty baked ziti with broccoli and alfredo sauce brings comfort and Italian-inspired warmth to family dinner tables. Creamy cheese, tender pasta, and nutritious broccoli combine in one irresistible casserole you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (1 lb) ziti pasta
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 cups Alfredo sauce
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Finishing Ingredients:
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare oven at 375F (190C). Cook ziti pasta following package instructions, incorporating broccoli florets during final 3 minutes of boiling.
- Thoroughly drain pasta and broccoli mixture, ensuring no excess water remains.
- In spacious mixing bowl, combine pasta with broccoli, Alfredo sauce, mozzarella, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Grease baking dish and transfer pasta mixture, spreading contents uniformly across surface.
- Generously sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over entire dish, creating an even coating.
- Place in preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese turns golden and sauce bubbles around edges.
- Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 5-7 minutes, enabling sauce to set and flavors to meld.
- Serve warm, portioning carefully to maintain structural integrity of the dish.
Notes
- Customize cooking time by checking the ziti’s golden-brown color and sauce bubbling, which indicates perfect doneness.
- Cut broccoli into smaller, uniform florets to ensure even cooking and better distribution throughout the pasta.
- Consider using whole wheat ziti or gluten-free pasta alternatives for dietary preferences without compromising taste.
- Replace traditional Alfredo sauce with lighter Greek yogurt or cauliflower-based sauce to reduce calories and increase nutritional value.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg