Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Baked Ziti recipe featuring creamy ricotta and gooey mozzarella. This dish is perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights in, delivering rich tomato flavors and a melty cheese topping that will have everyone coming back for seconds. Simple to prepare, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that promises to warm hearts and fill bellies with every delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
- In a large bowl, mix marinara sauce, ricotta, half of the mozzarella, salt, pepper, and chopped basil until smooth.
- Combine cooked ziti with the sauce mixture, ensuring all pasta is coated.
- Layer half of the ziti mixture in a greased baking dish, top with half of the remaining mozzarella, add the rest of the ziti mixture, and finish with Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240g)
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 55mg