Description

A quick, one-dish weeknight dinner featuring ziti pasta tossed in marinara and creamy ricotta, topped with a golden layer of melted mozzarella. It’s faster than takeout and delivers restaurant-quality comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ziti or penne pasta
24 oz marinara sauce
15 oz full-fat ricotta cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook pasta until al dente (8-10 minutes). Drain but do not rinse.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together ricotta, egg, half of the Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
Spread half of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish. Pour the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then spoon the remaining marinara on top. Gently fold to combine.
Top evenly with shredded mozzarella and remaining Parmesan.
Bake for 20 minutes. Cover loosely with foil for the first 15 minutes if concerned about burning, then remove foil to brown the cheese.
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Shred your own mozzarella for better melting. Do not rinse the pasta after boiling to keep the starch for sauce adherence. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes after baking to allow the cheese to set for easier serving. Can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 680
Fat: 22
Saturated Fat: 11
Carbohydrates: 55
Fiber: 3
Protein: 22

Keywords: baked ziti, weeknight dinner, comfort food, pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, easy dinner, family meal