Go Back
Cheesy baked ziti with golden mozzarella
Vagner Carvalho

Cheesy Baked Ziti

Baked ziti layers tomato-coated pasta, creamy ricotta, and a golden mozzarella top. Undercooking the pasta slightly keeps it from becoming overly soft while it absorbs sauce in the oven.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Resting, Chilling or Cooling 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 510
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 450 g ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 900 g marinara sauce
  • 425 g whole-milk ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • 50 g Parmesan finely grated
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 300 g low-moisture mozzarella shredded

Method
 

  1. Heat oven to 375°F (190°C). Oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cook pasta in salted boiling water 2 minutes less than package directions; drain.
  2. Warm oil in a saucepan. Cook garlic 30 seconds, then add marinara and simmer 5 minutes.
  3. Mix ricotta, egg, Parmesan, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss pasta with two-thirds of the sauce and half the mozzarella.
  4. Spread a little remaining sauce in the dish. Add half the pasta, dollop with half the ricotta mixture, then repeat. Spoon remaining sauce on top and cover with remaining mozzarella.
  5. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until bubbling in the center and reaching 165°F (74°C). Rest 10 minutes, then divide into 8 portions.

Notes

Nutrition is an estimate per serving, based on the stated yield. Actual values vary by brands and optional toppings. Times are estimates; use the visual and temperature cues in the method.