Cheesy Baked Ziti Pasta (Printable Version)

A comforting layered pasta bake with creamy cheeses and tangy marinara sauce, ideal for cozy meals.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pound ziti pasta

→ Cheeses

02 - 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
03 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
04 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Sauce

05 - 4 cups marinara sauce

→ Other

06 - 1 large egg
07 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
02 - Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, basil or herbs, salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix thoroughly.
04 - Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture and toss gently until evenly coated.
05 - Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in prepared dish. Evenly layer half the pasta mixture over sauce.
06 - Pour 1 ½ cups marinara over pasta layer, then sprinkle half the remaining mozzarella on top.
07 - Add remaining pasta mixture, cover with remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
08 - Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
09 - Let bake rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of dish that feeds a crowd without making you feel like you've spent all day cooking.
  • Those pockets of creamy ricotta mixed with crispy-edged mozzarella are impossibly satisfying.
  • You can prep it hours ahead and just pop it in the oven when people are arriving.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the pasta—it'll turn mushy once it's in the oven with all that sauce and heat.
  • The foil covering for the first part of baking keeps the top from browning too fast while everything inside heats through.
  • That 10-minute rest isn't just busy-work; it gives the dish time to set so you don't end up with a sloppy mess on the plate.
03 -
  • Buy whole milk ricotta if you can find it—it makes the filling richer and more forgiving.
  • If your marinara sauce tastes a little thin, let it simmer on the stove for a few minutes before assembling to concentrate the flavors.
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