Description
This Three Cheese Baked Ziti is a classic Italian-American comfort dish featuring tender ziti pasta baked in a rich marinara sauce with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and sharp Parmesan cheese. It’s a hearty and satisfying vegetarian main course perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Sauce
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cheeses
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- extra mozzarella and Parmesan for topping
Garnish
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the ziti later.
- Cook the pasta: Boil salted water and cook the ziti pasta until al dente as per package directions. Drain well and set aside.
- Sauté the garlic: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Prepare the sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper into the skillet with garlic. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to develop flavors. Remove from heat.
- Combine pasta and cheeses: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti with ricotta, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, and half of the prepared sauce. Toss gently to coat the pasta evenly.
- Assemble in the baking dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and transfer the pasta mixture into it. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the top.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle extra mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the sauce layer for a golden, bubbly crust.
- Bake covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes until the cheese topping is bubbly and golden brown.
- Garnish and serve: Optionally, sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley over the baked ziti before serving to add freshness and color.
Notes
- Add cooked ground beef or sausage to the marinara sauce for a meatier variation.
- This dish freezes well—assemble it before baking and freeze. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
