Description
Cheesy Baked Ziti is a rich and comforting casserole layered with pasta, marinara sauce, and three cheeses—perfect for feeding a crowd or enjoying as leftovers.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 3 cups marinara or tomato sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano or basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil ziti until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add ground meat (if using) and cook until browned. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, half the mozzarella, and half the Parmesan. Season with salt, pepper, and herbs.
- Grease a baking dish. Layer half the pasta, half the sauce, and half the cheese mixture. Repeat the layers.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, add a splash of cream to the sauce.
- Use quality marinara for the best flavor.
- Can be assembled a day ahead and baked later.
- Perfect as a freezer meal—wrap well before freezing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 730mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 90mg