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Baked Ziti Recipe

Baked Ziti pasta layered with a hearty meat sauce and creamy ricotta, topped with bubbly mozzarella.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 630
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb 450g ziti
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb 450g bulk Italian sausage, or swap in ground beef
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped small
  • 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • One 24-ounce 680g jar marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper optional
  • One 15-ounce 425g container whole-milk ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup 25g finely grated Parmesan, plus extra reserved for the top
  • 2 cups 225g shredded low-moisture mozzarella, split into two portions
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • A few fresh basil leaves torn, for serving

Equipment

  • 1 9x13-inch baking dish
  • 1 large pot
  • 1 Large skillet

Method
 

  1. Pull the ziti about 2 minutes before the box time, then drain, keeping back ½ cup of the cooking water.
  2. Brown the sausage in the olive oil, then soften the onion in the same pan.
  3. Stir in the garlic, marinara, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Let it bubble for 5 minutes.
  4. Beat the ricotta, egg, and Parmesan together until smooth.
  5. Coat the pasta in two-thirds of the sauce, then build it in the dish: pasta, ricotta, pasta again, the rest of the sauce, and the mozzarella on top.
  6. Bake at 375°F (190°C), 20 minutes covered and 10 minutes uncovered.
  7. Let it rest 10 minutes before cutting in.

Notes

Sodium is high due to sausage, marinara, and cheese; use low-sodium marinara or reduce added salt to bring it down.