Keto Baked Ziti

Prep: 15 min Cook: 45 min Total: 60 min Servings: 12
Annie Lampella @ Ketofocus

By Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Published April 16, 2024 • Updated December 2, 2025

Pioneer Woman's most famous recipe turned keto

Reader Rating
5 Stars (2 Reviews)
CasseroleKid FriendlyNut Free

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

Enjoy the ultimate comfort food while staying low-carb with this take on the Pioneer Woman's most-loved recipe, baked ziti. This keto baked ziti recipe combines zesty beef & sausage marinara with gooey cheese baked into low-carb noodles.

One of Ree Drummond’s (aka The Pioneer Woman) most popular recipes is her Baked Ziti Pasta. I would describe it as if spaghetti and lasagna had a baby, that baby would be named baked ziti. It’s the ultimate comfort food because it’s loaded with meat, cheese AND CARBS!!! Unfortunately, it’s the ultimate nightmare for someone wanting to stay away from carbohydrates, but I found a way to make it low-carb and taste just as good! A spoon resting in a casserole dish filled with a beefy pasta casserole.

Why is The Pioneer Woman’s Baked Ziti so good?

In my carb loving days, I’ve made this recipe on several occasions. And each time, I’ve wondered this question with every bite. My conclusion is that it’s not the zesty, meaty marinara sauce, or the creamy, cheesy white sauce, or the layers of mozzarella cheese sprinkled in between every layer. And it’s not the noodles because they are just plain boxed ziti pasta noodles. Nope. This recipe is so popular because it’s the combination of all of those marvelous ingredients brought together in layers. Once baked, the cheesy sauce and sprinkled cheese layers holds it all together like glue giving you a harmony of flavor with each bite.

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Keto Baked Ziti

5 (2) Prep 15m Cook 45m Total 60m 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground sausage
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 24-25 oz low-carb marinara sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon anise seeds
  • 16 oz keto ziti noodles
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs

Step by Step Instructions

Step by Step Instructions

1
Saute onion & garlic

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat the skillet. Add diced onion and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until softened.

A skillet with cooked onion and garlic.
Ingredients for this step
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
2
Cook the proteins

Add in ground beef and ground sausage. Break up into crumbles and let cook until browned. Drain off some of the fat, leaving about 2-3 tablespoons behind for moisture.

A skillet with browned and cooked ground beef.
Ingredients for this step
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground sausage
3
Make the red sauce

Stir in diced tomatoes plus the juice from the can. Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and anise seed. Stir and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meaty red sauce with cooked tomatoes.
Tip The longer the sauce simmers, the more flavorful it will be.
Ingredients for this step
  • 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 24-25 oz jar marinara sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon anise seed
4
Reserve some sauce

Remove 2 ½ cups of sauce, transfer to a bowl to use later and let cool. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

A spoon scooping out red sauce into a measuring cup to set aside for later.
5
Cook the pasta

Cook the ziti pasta according to the instructions on the box but only boil for 2 minutes or until al dente. Any longer and the pasta will break. Strain pasta and run cold water over it to keep it from sticking and to cool it down.

Stirring cooked penne pasta with a spoon in boiling water.
Ingredients for this step
  • 16 oz low-carb ziti pasta
6
Prepare the white sauce

In a large bowl, mix together 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and eggs.

A bowl with cheese and egg mixed together.
Ingredients for this step
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 eggs
7
Coat the pasta

Pour the cooked & drained pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture. And stir to coat. Stir in the 2 ½ cups reserved, cooled beef pasta sauce.

A bowl with ziti pasta coated with a creamy red beefy sauce.
8
Assemble and bake

To assemble, add half of the pasta mixture to a large casserole dish (either a 9×13 or 8×10). Spread in an even layer. Spoon half of the remaining pasta sauce over the top, then top with half of the remaining cheese. Repeat the layers with remaining pasta, sauce and cheese. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and melted.

An unbaked casserole made from pasta, marinara sauce and cheese.
Tip Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
Ingredients for this step
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Nutrition Per Serving
431 Calories
28.2g Fat
35.7g Protein
8.8g Net Carbs
19.8g Total Carbs
12 Servings
Nutrition disclaimer

The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.

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A spatula pulling out a serving of ziti pasta with beef and marinara while cheese pulls from the dish.

Keto pasta options

Beside lupin pasta, like the one used in this Italian recipe, there are other low-carb noodle options that can be used.
  • Shirataki noodles – These are gluten-free, contain low or no calories and are zero carbs! They are made from konjac root and tend to have neutral flavor but a rubbery texture. Shirataki noodles come in different shapes and sizes, including ziti, macaroni and spaghetti noodles.
  • Hearts of palm – Noodles made from hearts of palm look like traditional spaghetti noodles. They have a neutral flavor with a hint of artichoke flavor and pair well in Italian cooking. Hearts of palm pasta is gluten-free and very low in carbs. It doesn’t come in a ziti pasta shape but is available as spaghetti, angel hair and lasagna noodles.
  • Wheat based pasta – There are some brands that made keto noodles using wheat protein. These are not gluten-free; however, they are low in carbs. Wheat-based keto pastas tend to have a similar texture and appearance to traditional pasta. This pasta does come in a variety of shapes including a penne pasta shape.
Overhead shot of a ziti casserole recipe from the Pioneer Woman topped with chopped parsley.

How can I decrease the carbs further?

This dish is 8.8 grams net carbs. If that doesn’t fit in your macros or your lifestyle, you can easily decrease some of the carbs in this keto baked ziti recipe. Here are some ideas:
  • Omit the canned diced tomatoes – This will decrease the net carbs by 1 gram making each serving 7.7 grams net carbs.
  • Omit the onion – This doesn’t cut out the carbs by too much. You will save 0.1 gram of carbs per serving by leaving out the onions.
  • Omit the cottage cheese – This will decrease the net carbs by 0.5 grams per serving.

Storage information

Meal prep

Baked ziti is ideal for meal prep. You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and store it unbaked in the refrigerator for 3-5 days or the freezer for up to 2-3 months. To cook from frozen, bake at 375 covered with aluminum foil for 45-60 minutes or until casserole is cooked through and cheese is bubbly.

Storing leftovers

Leftover casserole can be transferred to an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. 
Keto Baked Ziti

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use all ground beef?

Yes, you can use all ground beef or all ground sausage in this baked ziti recipe. You could even swap out the beef for ground turkey or chicken.

My pasta broke into pieces and turned to mush. What did I do wrong?

Sounds like you overcooked your pasta. Revisit the directions to see that you should have par-cooked the noodles. They will continue to cook as the casserole bakes and will help keep their ziti shape.

Can I use fresh tomatoes instead of canned?

Absolutely. Fresh tomatoes will give a vibrant flavor in this keto pasta recipe.

About the Author
Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie Lampella, Pharm.D.

Annie is a Doctor of Pharmacy, mom, and the recipe creator behind KetoFocus. With a B.S. in Genetics from UC Davis, she has over 14 years of experience developing family-friendly keto recipes based on the science of human metabolism.

Learn more about Annie View My Cookbook

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2 Comments

  1. Baking this at 375°F for 20 minutes gave the top layer a golden bubbly crust that was irresistible. The anise seeds added the most amazing subtle depth to the meat sauce I wasn’t expecting. I loved how tossing the just-cooled ziti in the cheesy mixture made every bite creamy and flavorful.

    Reply

  2. Loved how comforting and satisfying this turned out. I used Rao’s marinara and it worked great. The cottage cheese made it super creamy.

    Reply

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