Description
A comforting and cheesy baked ziti dish perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce (well-seasoned)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese (preferably whole milk)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic until fragrant, about 2 minutes. If using meat, add it now and cook until browned.
- Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, egg, half of the Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Grease a baking dish and layer half of the cooked ziti, half of the ricotta mixture, half of the mozzarella, and half of the marinara. Repeat layers, finishing with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and browned.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
- For added flavor, consider using fresh herbs in addition to or instead of dried seasoning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 80mg