Irresistible Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
A classic Italian-American comfort dish featuring ziti pasta, a robust marinara sauce, and a creamy three-cheese blend baked until bubbly.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
1 lb Ziti pasta
24 oz Marinara sauce
15 oz Whole milk ricotta cheese
1 Large egg, lightly beaten
2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp Dried oregano
2 tbsp Fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1.Preheat oven to 375°F and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2.Cook ziti in a large pot of salted water for 2-3 minutes less than package directions.
3.In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, half the Parmesan, parsley, and oregano.
4.Toss the drained pasta with 2/3 of the marinara sauce.
5.Spread a little sauce in the dish, then layer half the pasta and all the ricotta mixture.
6.Top with remaining pasta, remaining sauce, and the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.
7.Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
8.Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Undercook the pasta slightly so it doesn’t get mushy during the bake.
For a meat version, add 1 lb of browned ground beef to the sauce.
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.