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Vegetarian Baked Ziti

A bubbly, cheesy baked pasta loaded with ricotta, mozzarella, and marinara sauce. The ultimate comfort food for feeding a family.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 3 cups marinara sauce
  • 2 cups ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti according to package directions until just al dente (1 minute less than package says). Drain.
  2. In a bowl, mix ricotta, egg, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the cooked ziti with 2 cups of marinara sauce. Fold in the ricotta mixture until everything is well combined.
  4. Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top and sprinkle with the rest of the mozzarella.
  5. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden. Let rest 5 minutes, then top with fresh basil and serve.

Notes

This is the dish you make when you want leftovers. Make it ahead and refrigerate overnight—just add 10 extra minutes to the bake time. For extra veggies, stir in sauteed spinach or diced roasted red peppers.