Cheesy Baked Ziti

Cheesy Baked Ziti is perfect for those nights when you might be tempted to order pizza or hit the drive thru. Preparation is minimal and in the 30 minutes while it is baking you can prepare a salad (or enjoy a glass of wine).

⏲️ Time needed

In the 10 minutes it takes to cook the pasta, you can mix the pasta sauce and Italian seasoning, and separate the portion you're reserving.

You'll need another 5 minutes to combine the ricotta mixture and layer the ingredients in the casserole dish, so prep will take about 15 minutes. Cook time is about 35 minutes. Total time is just under one hour.

🥘 Ingredients

• ziti or penne
• pasta sauce
• Italian seasoning
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg
• ricotta cheese
• grated Parmesan cheese
• parsley
• salt
• nonstick cooking spray

📋 Instructions

Spray a 3-quart baking dish. Cook pasta according to the package directions but slightly undercook, then drain. In a medium bowl combine pasta sauce and Italian seasoning. Remove 2 cups and set aside. Stir remaining sauce into cooked pasta.

Place half of the pasta mixture in the baking dish, then sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese on top. In a medium bowl, beat the egg and stir in ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and salt until blended. Place over the mozzarella cheese by dolloping with a spoon and gently spread.

Top with remaining pasta, then sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spread remaining pasta sauce evenly to the edges of the dish, coating all the pasta.

Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until very hot in center and edges are bubbly. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

💭 Tips

Using pasta sauce from a jar saves time, but if you have tomatoes on hand and would rather make your own sauce, you can substitute your preferred recipe.

I like to use fire-roasted tomatoes for depth of flavor and season it with fresh basil, which I grow in a south-facing window all year long. My favorite pasta sauce is this crockpot marinara sauce.

❄️ Freezer instructions

Cheesy Baked Ziti freezes well, so if you'd like you can double the recipe and put one in the freezer. Don't put the shredded cheese topping on before freezing, but you can put it in a separate bag or container and place it under the wrapping so that it is handy when you are ready to bake the dish.

Print or write out the below instructions and place with the dish. I like to freeze in a glass container with a lid and place a layer of foil or freezer paper over the casserole, then place the instructions between that and the lid. Label the outside with "Cheesy Baked Ziti" (I use permanent marker to label the outside; it can be removed with magic eraser.)

📖 Recipe

Cheesy Baked Ziti

Cheesy Baked Ziti is perfect for those nights when you might be tempted to order pizza or hit the drive thru. Preparation is minimal and in the 30 minutes while it is baking you can prepare a salad.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian, Vegetarian

Servings 8 servings

Calories 446

Ingredients

  

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• 12 ounces box ziti or penne
• 50 ounces pasta sauce
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 3 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
• 1 egg
• 16 ounces container ricotta cheese
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Nonstick cooking spray

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Instructions

• Spray a 3-quart baking dish. Cook pasta according to package directions but slightly undercooking; drain. In a medium bowl combine pasta sauce and Italian seasoning. Remove 2 cups and set aside. Stir remaining sauce into cooked pasta.
• Place half of the pasta mixture in baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese on top.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg and stir in ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, and salt until blended.
• Place over the mozzarella cheese by dolloping with a spoon and gently spread. Top with remaining pasta, then sprinkle with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Spread remaining pasta sauce evenly to edges of dish, coating all pasta.
• Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until very hot in center and edges are bubbly.
• Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

Notes

Cheesy Baked Ziti freezes well, so if you'd like you can double the recipe and put one in the freezer. Don't put the shredded cheese topping on before freezing—put it in a separate bag or container and place it under the wrapping so that it is handy when you are ready to bake the dish. Label with:

Cheesy Baked Ziti: Thaw. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350°F oven for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 3 to 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

Nutrition per serving

Calories: 446 calCarbohydrates: 44 gProtein: 25 gFat: 19 gSodium: 1446 mgFiber: 4 gSugar: 9 g

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🥗 Side dishes

Cheesy Baked Ziti goes well with steamed, sautéed, or roasted vegetables such as:

• steamed broccoli
• sautéed spinach with garlic
• sautéed zucchini and onions
• sautéed sugar snap peas
• roasted okra and sliced onion

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