Description
Perfect for Christmas parties, Thanksgiving dinners, or any cozy holiday gathering, this cheesy baked ziti is a festive crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and boil ziti until just under al dente.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté garlic until fragrant. Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta with salt, pepper, and optional parmesan.
- Combine drained pasta with most of the marinara sauce.
- Layer pasta, ricotta, mozzarella, and sauce in a greased baking dish. Repeat and top with cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10–15 more minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use penne or rigatoni if ziti isn’t available.
- Add cooked sausage or vegetables for a variation.
- Broil briefly at the end for a golden top.
- Can be made a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
- Freezes well before baking – great for prep-ahead meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 50mg