Three-Cheese Baked Ziti
This Three-Cheese Baked Ziti is loaded with tender pasta, plenty of marinara, creamy ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan, then baked until bubbly and golden. It's an easy, comforting family dinner that's perfect for making ahead or freezing for another night.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Prepare the Pasta
Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain well. The pasta should still be slightly firm since it will continue cooking in the oven.
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Make the Ricotta Filling
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, 1/4 cup Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper and parsley.
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Sauce the Pasta
Return the drained pasta to the pot. Add about 3 cups of marinara and toss until the pasta is well coated.
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Build the First Layer
Spread about 1 cup marinara over the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Add half of the sauced pasta. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta in small dollops, then sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella.
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Add the Second Layer
Add the remaining pasta. Spoon the remaining ricotta mixture over the top and gently spread it around. Pour another 1 1/2–2 cups marinara over everything.
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Add the Cheese
Top with the remaining 2 cups mozzarella and remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
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Bake
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is completely melted. Broil for 1–2 minutes at the end if you'd like a few golden-brown spots on top.
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Rest and Serve
Let the baked ziti rest for about 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Note
Don't overcook the pasta. Cooking it about 2 minutes shy of al dente prevents it from becoming too soft while baking.
Keep it saucy. Baked pasta absorbs quite a bit of sauce in the oven, so this recipe intentionally uses plenty of marinara. You may not need every last bit of the second jar depending on how saucy you like it.
Want to add meat? Brown 1 lb ground beef or mild Italian sausage, drain the excess grease and stir it into the marinara before assembling.
Make Ahead: Assemble the entire casserole, cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then bake. It may need an additional 5–10 minutes.
Freezer Friendly: Assemble but don't bake. Wrap tightly and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
Make It Gluten-Free
Use your favorite gluten-free ziti or penne and make sure the marinara and other packaged ingredients are labeled gluten-free. Cook the pasta slightly less than the package directions so it doesn't become too soft during baking.
