Description
This easy baked ziti is the ultimate comfort food, blending tender pasta, hearty marinara, and layers of creamy ricotta and gooey mozzarella. It is a reliable, crowd-pleasing dinner perfect for busy weeknights. By parboiling the ziti and layering the cheeses carefully, you achieve a bubbly, golden-brown crust with perfectly al dente noodles every time. It is a simple, foolproof way to deliver a satisfying, restaurant-quality Italian-American meal straight to your family’s table with minimal effort.
Ingredients
1 lb Ziti Pasta
24 oz Marinara Sauce
15 oz Ricotta Cheese
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the ziti for two minutes less than the package instructions.
Drain the pasta thoroughly.
Combine the drained pasta with the marinara sauce in a large bowl.
Spread half of the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Dollop the ricotta cheese evenly over the pasta layer.
Add the remaining pasta mixture on top.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan over the surface.
Bake for 20 minutes covered with foil, then 10 minutes uncovered until the cheese is melted and golden brown.
Notes
Always undercook the pasta slightly (al dente) so it retains its texture during the bake. Shred your mozzarella by hand for superior melting properties compared to pre-shredded varieties. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 50mg