Baked Ziti
Cheesy, saucy baked ziti with ricotta and melted mozzarella. A crowd-pleasing pasta bake that's easy to assemble.
Baked ziti is comfort food that feeds a crowd without much fuss. It’s the casserole version of lasagna: all the cheesy, saucy satisfaction, none of the tedious layering. Boil, mix, top with cheese, and bake.
It’s a great make-ahead dish: assemble it earlier in the day, refrigerate, and bake when you’re ready. Leftovers reheat well and it freezes nicely too, so it’s worth making a big pan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish with the olive oil.
- Cook the ziti in salted water until just al dente. It will finish cooking in the oven, so keep it slightly firm.
- Drain and return the pasta to the pot, then stir in the marinara sauce and ricotta until evenly coated.
- Transfer to the baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Top with the shredded mozzarella.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving so it sets up.
Equipment
- Large pot
- 9x13 baking dish
Tips
- Cook the pasta a minute shy of al dente, since it absorbs sauce and softens further in the oven.
- Let it rest after baking. Cutting in immediately gives you a soupy mess; ten minutes lets it set into clean portions.
- Stir a little sauce into the pasta rather than just layering it on top so every bite is coated.