Description
A comforting and hearty baked pasta dish with layers of ziti, ricotta, marinara sauce, and melty mozzarella, perfect for family gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 lb ground meat (Italian sausage or ground beef)
- 1 cup fresh herbs (basil and parsley)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, chopped
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti in salted boiling water until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add ground meat and cook until browned. Pour in marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, fresh herbs, and meat sauce. Toss until coated.
- In a greased baking dish, layer half of the ziti mixture, add marinara, then top with the rest of the ziti, ending with the remaining mozzarella.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes until bubbling.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, replace meat with sautéed mushrooms or lentils. Add sautéed vegetables like spinach or zucchini for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Italian Pasta, Comfort Food, Family Recipe, Cheese Pasta