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A steaming dish of baked ziti with melted cheese and rich tomato sauce.

Proven way to grow your Baked Ziti skillsBaked Ziti

This recipe will help you master Baked Ziti, a classic Italian-American dish. Layers of pasta, rich tomato sauce, and creamy cheeses combine to create a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for any occasion.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
Sauce
  • 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 0.5 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
Cheese
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • large pot
  • large bowl

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ziti or penne pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain it well.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, and fresh parsley; mix thoroughly.
Assembly
  1. Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  2. Layer half of the cooked pasta over the sauce, followed by half of the ricotta cheese mixture and then half of the remaining marinara sauce.
  3. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, and marinara sauce.
  4. Top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Baking
  1. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is hot.
  2. Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.

Notes

For extra flavor, you can brown ground beef or Italian sausage and mix it into the marinara sauce before layering. You can also add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce for a bit of heat. This dish can be assembled ahead of time and refrigerated; just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.