Description
Easy Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe with Ricotta Cheese: Three kinds of cheese layered with pasta and homemade tomato sauce baked to golden brown perfection—delicious! This is an easy meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound (454 grams) Ziti pasta
- 4 cups (1 recipe) homemade tomato sauce (you can use your favorite spaghetti sauce)
- 24 ounces whole milk Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded (additional for topping)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- Fresh Basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish, or lasagna pan.
- Make the homemade tomato sauce and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot of salted water, cook the ziti until just shy of al dente (about 2 minutes less than the package instructions). Drain the pasta.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, beaten egg, and 2 1/2 cups tomato sauce in a medium bowl.
- Spoon the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining pasta sauce, then sprinkle with Parmigiano cheese and extra mozzarella just a thin to cover the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes; let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving. Garnish with a little fresh basil, if desired.
- This dish is best enjoyed with a side of crusty bread or a simple green salad. The rich layers of cheese and tomato sauce make it a satisfying meal that’s sure to please everyone at the table. Buon appetito!
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Savory
- Method: Italian
- Cuisine: Italian