Classic Baked Ziti Recipe
This timeless and easy classic baked ziti recipe is made with the simplest ingredients: pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, and marinara sauce.
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 561kcal
Equipment
- 1 large pot
- 1 strainer
- 1 oven safe baking dish
- 1 wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 pint ricotta cheese
- 1 lb short pasta 16 ounces
- 24 oz jar marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella shredded
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Bring a large stock pot of water to boil. Once the water boils, add salt and stir in your pasta of choice.
- Cook the pasta 2 minutes less than the directions suggests, drain and set aside.
- Take an oven-safe baking dish and pour a few drops of marinara at the bottom. Pour in the pasta and mix the pasta in with the marinara.
- Add more marinara, spices, salt, pepper, and a few dollops of the ricotta cheese. Stir with a wooden spoon, making sure to coat all of the pasta.
- Pour in a little more sauce and ricotta as desired. Top the pasta with a layer of mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 minutes.
- Once the pasta is finished baking, turn the oven to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes, or until the cheese is golden brown and the pasta is slightly crispy on the sides.
Notes
Use more tomato sauce than you think you need as the baked ziti could easily dry out if there is not enough sauce.
Remember to keep the pasta al dente so that it does not fall apart when it bakes in the oven.
Salt the water when the pasta cooks to give the pasta more flavor. I always suggest adding 1 tablespoon of salt when the water is boiling.
Nutrition
Calories: 561kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 843mg | Potassium: 645mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1113IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 412mg | Iron: 3mg
