Description
An indulgent, hearty baked ziti dish that features layers of marinara, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella, perfect for family gatherings or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 3 cups well-seasoned marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese (preferably whole milk)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente, around 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- If using, add the ground beef or sausage, breaking it apart and cooking until browned. Stir in the marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, then let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, half of the grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish. Layer half the cooked ziti on the bottom, then spread half of the ricotta mixture evenly over it. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the sauce.
- Repeat the layers: ziti, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce, ending with a topping of the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover the baking dish with foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Serve with a fresh green salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. Can be frozen for future meals.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: baked ziti, comfort food, Italian pasta, family meal, cheesy pasta