Description
Classic Italian-American comfort food featuring ziti pasta baked with creamy ricotta, rich tomato marinara sauce, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, creating a warm and satisfying cheesy casserole.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz ziti pasta
Sauce & Cheese Mixture
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s fully heated by the time the ziti is ready to bake.
- Cook the pasta: Boil the ziti pasta in salted water until it is al dente, which means tender but still firm to the bite. Once cooked, drain thoroughly.
- Prepare the ricotta mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix well to form a creamy, seasoned cheese mixture.
- Layer the baking dish: Spread half of the cooked pasta evenly in the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then add half of the marinara sauce on top.
- Repeat layering: Layer the remaining pasta over the sauce, followed by the rest of the ricotta mixture and marinara sauce. Finally, sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly on top to create a cheesy crust.
- Bake the ziti: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese on top is golden brown and melted.
Notes
- For a heartier meal, add cooked ground beef or Italian sausage when layering the sauce.
- If you don’t have ziti, penne pasta works as a suitable substitute without changing the texture much.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
