Description
A crowd-pleasing, hearty Italian-American comfort dish that brings restaurant-quality flavors to your home kitchen. This recipe features al dente ziti pasta tossed in a rich marinara and creamy ricotta mixture, layered with high-quality mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Perfectly baked until bubbly and golden, this simple yet effective recipe is an ideal choice for busy weeknight dinners or large family gatherings.
Ingredients
1 lb Ziti Pasta
24 oz Marinara Sauce
15 oz Whole Milk Ricotta
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, hand-shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
1 tsp Dried Oregano
1/4 cup Fresh Basil, chiffonade
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a standard 9×13 baking dish.
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the ziti until just before it reaches al dente.
Drain the pasta thoroughly and return it to the pot.
Combine the cooked pasta, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, and oregano in a large mixing bowl.
Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread into an even layer.
Top with the remaining mozzarella and the grated parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
Notes
Ensure you drain excess water from the ricotta for the best texture. If you cannot find ziti, penne makes an excellent substitute. Hand-shredding the mozzarella ensures better melting quality compared to pre-shredded varieties.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 55mg