Description
A comforting baked ziti recipe that brings people together with gooey cheese and rich marinara sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 Tbsp. Olive oil
- 1 Onion, finely chopped (about ½ cup)
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 5 Cups Marinara sauce (about 46 ounces)
- 1–2 teaspoons Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. Dried Ziti (or penne pasta)
- 1 Cup Whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 Large Egg
- ½ Cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese
- 8–12 slices Provolone cheese (from the deli counter)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Sauté the chopped onion for 1-2 minutes until soft.
- Add minced garlic, seasoning with salt and pepper. Cook for an additional minute.
- Pour in the marinara sauce, heating until hot.
- In a large stockpot, add the dried ziti to rapidly simmering water. Cook for about 6 minutes or until al dente.
- In a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and optional sugar.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
- Drain the pasta and layer half in the baking dish, followed by half the sauce and dollops of the ricotta mixture.
- Top with provolone and half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layering with the remaining pasta, sauce, ricotta mixture, provolone, and mozzarella, ensuring everything is well-covered.
- Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake uncovered for 30 minutes. For a crispy finish, broil for a few minutes at the end.
Notes
Feel free to substitute ricotta with a dairy-free alternative or use whole-grain pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta, family dinner, meal prep, comfort food