Description
Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food, combining layers of al dente pasta, rich marinara sauce, and gooey melted cheese. This crowd-pleaser is perfect for family gatherings or cozy dinners at home. With its warm, inviting aroma and hearty flavor, every bite will have you reminiscing about cherished moments spent around the dinner table. Easy to prepare and endlessly customizable, this baked ziti recipe is sure to become a favorite in your household.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 lb ground beef or sausage (optional)
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti in salted boiling water until al dente (about 8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
- If using, brown ground beef or sausage in a skillet over medium heat; drain excess fat.
- Stir marinara sauce into the meat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese with Italian seasoning and half of the mozzarella.
- In a greased baking dish, layer marinara mixture, half the ziti, dollops of ricotta mix, and more marinara; repeat layers finishing with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes; remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg