Easy Baked Ziti

Easy Baked Ziti

Prep

15 min

Rest

10 min

Cook

35 min

Total

1 hr

Servings

8

Difficulty

Easy

Ingredients

• 1 lb ziti or penne
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb Italian sausage or ground beef (optional)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce
• 1 (15-oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 15 oz whole-milk ricotta
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided
• 3 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
• 2 tbsp chopped basil or parsley

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F. Cook the pasta in salted boiling water 2 minutes less than the package says. Drain.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet and brown the sausage, if using, about 7 minutes. Add the garlic for 30 seconds, then the marinara, crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Simmer 5 minutes.
3. Stir the ricotta, egg and 1/4 cup Parmesan together.
4. Toss the pasta with the sauce. Spread half in a 9x13-inch baking dish, dollop with the ricotta mixture and sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella.
5. Top with the remaining pasta, then the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Bake uncovered 25 minutes, until bubbling and the cheese is spotty brown. Rest 10 minutes and sprinkle with basil.

Why this recipe works

Undercooking the pasta by 2 minutes means it finishes in the oven without going soft. A ricotta layer with egg and Parmesan stays creamy, and a final layer of mozzarella browns into a cheesy top.

Tips, substitutions & storage

• Swap: Use penne or rigatoni instead of ziti.
• Swap: Cottage cheese can replace the ricotta; skip the meat for a vegetarian bake.
• Undercooking the pasta keeps it from turning mushy in the oven.
• Assemble up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate; bake covered 20 minutes, then uncovered 20 minutes.
• Freeze unbaked, tightly wrapped, up to 3 months.

Nutrition (estimated, per serving)

Calories

590

Protein

31g

Carbs

55g

Fat

27g

Fiber

4g

Sugar

9g

Sodium

1090mg

Nutrition information is an automatic estimate based on typical ingredients and will vary with the brands and amounts you use. It is not medical or dietary advice.