Cheesy Baked Ziti (Print Version)

Comforting baked ziti with layers of marinara, ricotta, and melted mozzarella, ideal for family meals.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 1 pound ziti or penne 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 black pepper
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
02 - Boil ziti in salted water until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
03 - Mix ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, basil or Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until smooth.
04 - Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
05 - Spread 1 cup marinara sauce on bottom of baking dish, then add half of pasta mixture evenly over sauce.
06 - Pour 1 ½ cups marinara over pasta; sprinkle half of remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
07 - Add remaining pasta mixture, cover with remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.
08 - Cover loosely with foil and bake 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
09 - Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra basil if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It comes together in under an hour and feeds a crowd, making it your secret weapon for last-minute dinners.
  • The layers of ricotta and mozzarella create this luxurious texture that feels restaurant-quality but tastes like home.
  • You can prep it ahead, refrigerate it, and bake it whenever you're ready—pure kitchen flexibility.
02 -
  • Cook the pasta just under al dente because it will keep cooking in the oven—overcooked ziti turns into mush, and there's no fixing that.
  • Don't skimp on the mozzarella layers; that's where the magic happens, and the cheese actually protects the pasta below from drying out.
03 -
  • Use low-moisture mozzarella and don't be tempted to add extra sauce, or you'll end up with a watery bake instead of creamy layers.
  • Let the finished dish rest for those full 10 minutes before serving—patience here rewards you with cleaner servings and better flavor distribution.
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