Description
A comforting and delicious dish of ziti pasta layered with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese, perfect for family gatherings or cozy dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce or homemade tomato sauce
- 2 cups fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, to taste
- Fresh oregano, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Boil ziti or penne in salted water until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.
- In a medium saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat and sauté crushed garlic until fragrant, then add marinara sauce, fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Let simmer for about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix the cooked pasta with ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and half of the marinara sauce.
- In a baking dish, spread a thin layer of sauce, then half the pasta mixture. Layer the remaining marinara on top followed by the rest of the pasta and finish with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake for approximately 25–30 minutes or until the top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For added flavor, consider drizzling olive oil over the baked ziti before serving or garnishing with fresh basil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: baked ziti, comfort food, Italian pasta dish, family recipe, easy dinner