Baked Ziti with Mozzarella (Printer-friendly)
Tender pasta layered with rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti pasta
→ Cheese
02 - 1 2/3 cups ricotta cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Sauce
05 - 3 1/3 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
→ Seasonings
06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (or 1 tablespoon dried)
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Boil ziti pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente, about 8 to 9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, half of the shredded mozzarella (1 cup), Parmesan, egg, garlic, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper until evenly blended.
04 - Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce evenly on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
05 - Arrange half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then pour 1 cup marinara sauce evenly atop.
06 - Layer remaining ziti, then spread the rest of the ricotta mixture. Pour 1 cup more marinara sauce over the cheese layer.
07 - Cover with remaining marinara sauce, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake another 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
09 - Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Optionally garnish with fresh basil leaves.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It feels like a warm hug in every bite, perfect for sharing with friends or family.
- The layers of cheese and sauce create a comforting texture that keeps everyone coming back for seconds.
02 -
- Don’t overcook the pasta; it will continue to cook in the oven and remain perfectly tender.
- Using fresh garlic and basil elevates the sauce from simple to spectacular, trust me it’s worth the extra step.
03 -
- Layer the cheese mixture evenly to ensure every bite has a perfect balance.
- Covering with foil prevents the cheese from drying out while baking, then uncover to get that golden bubbly top.