Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked pasta with marinara sauce, mozzarella, and ricotta cheese.
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Ingredients
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Pasta
Sauce
Cheese Filling
Topping
Method
Preparation
- 1
Cook the Pasta
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- 2
Prepare the Marinara Sauce
In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for about 5-7 minutes.
Cheese Mixture
- 3
Mix the Cheese Filling
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh basil. Mix until well combined.
Assembly
- 4
Layer the Ingredients
In a large baking dish, spread a thin layer of the marinara sauce on the bottom. Then layer half of the cooked ziti pasta over the sauce. Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, followed by half of the marinara sauce. Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and marinara sauce.
- 5
Add the Mozzarella
Top the final layer of marinara sauce with the shredded mozzarella cheese, spreading it evenly over the top.
Baking
- 6
Bake the Ziti
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- 7
Cool and Serve
Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti sit for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired.