Description
A comforting and cheesy baked ziti dish that’s easy to make and perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook ziti pasta for 2 minutes less than the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, sauté minced garlic in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, sautéed garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese.
- In a separate large bowl, toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce until thoroughly coated.
- Fold the ricotta mixture into the pasta and sauce, stirring gently to create streaks of cheese throughout the dish.
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it into an even layer.
- Top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and the edges are lightly browned.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and let the dish rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce.
- Letting the dish rest after baking helps the layers to set and makes for easier slicing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg