Keto Baked Ziti
Published April 16, 2024 • Updated February 19, 2026
Pioneer Woman's most famous recipe turned keto
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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!
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 hold it all together like glue giving you a harmony of flavor with each bite.
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Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil -
1/4 medium onion, diced
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3 cloves garlic, minced
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1 pound ground beef
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1 pound ground sausage
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14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
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24-25 oz low-carb marinara sauce
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2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
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3/4 teaspoon salt
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1/2 teaspoon black pepper
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1/4 teaspoon anise seeds
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16 oz keto ziti noodles
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2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
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1 cup cottage cheese
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1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
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2 eggs
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
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.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
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.
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground sausage
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.
- 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
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.
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.
- 16 oz low-carb ziti pasta
Prepare the white sauce
In a large bowl, mix together 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and eggs.
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
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.
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.
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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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Get My Macros + Recipes →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 can also 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?
Yes! Fresh tomatoes will give great flavor to this dish.
My daughter scraped the caramelized cheese edges clean before I even got the dish to the table.
used ground turkey instead of sausage bc thats what i had and it still worked fine. added extra italian seasoning to make up for it. family ate the whole pan so guess ill be making it again lol
Ground turkey works great here. Smart call on the extra Italian seasoning, the turkey needs that flavor boost.