Description
This Three Cheese Baked Ziti is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring tender pasta combined with rich ricotta, melted mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan cheeses, all baked in a savory marinara sauce. Perfect as a hearty vegetarian main course, it’s simple to prepare and delivers a deliciously cheesy and satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 large egg
Seasonings and Garnish
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven and Cook Pasta: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then add the ziti pasta. Cook until just al dente according to package instructions, usually about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce and allow it to simmer gently for 5 minutes to develop flavor.
- Mix Cheese and Seasonings: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ cup Parmesan, egg, dried Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until everything is well incorporated.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked ziti pasta and half of the marinara sauce from the skillet into the cheese mixture. Stir well to coat the pasta evenly.
- Assemble the Casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the pasta and cheese mixture into the dish. Pour half of the remaining marinara sauce evenly on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining pasta mixture and sauce.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining ½ cup of shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup grated Parmesan evenly over the top of the assembled pasta.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the cheese to melt smoothly.
- Bake Uncovered to Brown: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until the dish is bubbly and the cheese topping is golden brown.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the baked ziti rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired to add freshness and color.
Notes
- For a heartier version, add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage to the marinara sauce.
- You can prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking; if chilled, add an extra 10 minutes to the baking time.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
