Description
Baked Ziti is a comforting and delicious dish featuring layers of tender ziti pasta, rich marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for family gatherings or cozy weeknight dinners, this easy-to-make recipe promises to delight everyone at the table with its hearty flavors. Get ready to indulge in a cheesy masterpiece that brings back memories of joyful meals shared with loved ones.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb Italian sausage (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti in salted boiling water until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant, then add crumbled sausage (if using) and cook until browned.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta with half of the Parmesan, salt, and pepper.
- Layer ingredients in a baking dish: start with marinara sauce, followed by half the ziti, half the ricotta mixture, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese; repeat layers.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes; remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg