Description
A warm, cheesy baked pasta dish that brings comfort and is easy to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 16 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 large egg
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage (optional)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic until fragrant. If using, add ground meat and cook until browned.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, marinara sauce, meat mixture, and half of the mozzarella cheese.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the pasta mixture, then add a layer of the ricotta mixture, and top with remaining pasta.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until bubbly and golden.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Allow the Baked Ziti to rest for about 10 minutes after baking for easier serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta, comfort food, family meal