Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil ziti in salted water until al dente; drain and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, ¾ cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, basil, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- In the baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the marinara, then half the ricotta mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, until bubbly and golden. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, roast garlic cloves before mixing into ricotta.
- Make ahead: Assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours; add 10 minutes to bake time.
- Vegetarian-friendly and easily doubled for crowd-pleasing crowds.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 480 Kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
