This baked ziti recipe is the simplest strategy to feed a crowd! Saucy, tacky, comforting, and flavorful, this fuss-free pasta is at all times successful.
This baked ziti recipe options layers of saucy pasta, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella cheese. Straightforward to assemble and at all times successful, it’s one in every of my go-to recipes for feeding a crowd.
I primarily based this recipe on the baked ziti I ate as a child. Reliably current at each potluck or celebration I attended, it was my favourite consolation meals. I liked the jumbles of noodles blended with tangy tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and Italian sausage or floor beef.
Today, I skip the meat, however this baked ziti recipe continues to be hearty, satisfying, and full of taste. Attempt it on a weeknight, or make it the subsequent time you’re having firm over for dinner. You (and your company) will adore it!
How one can Make Baked Ziti
Right here’s what you’ll must make this baked ziti recipe:
Elements
- Ziti, in fact! One other tube-shaped pasta, resembling penne or rigatoni, would work properly too.
- Marinara sauce – I really like my do-it-yourself marinara sauce right here, however store-bought pasta sauce can be truthful sport! I like to recommend Rao’s.
- Ricotta cheese – It creates a creamy layer within the middle of the baked ziti. Complete milk ricotta cheese could have one of the best creamy texture.
- Garlic, lemon zest, oregano, and purple pepper flakes – I take advantage of these substances to season the ricotta. The garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes add traditional Italian taste, and the lemon zest brings a scrumptious, sudden brightness.
- Contemporary spinach – A whole pound wilts down into this comforting pasta.
- Grated mozzarella and pecorino cheese – They create the melty topping. Be at liberty to substitute Parmesan cheese if you happen to don’t preserve pecorino available.
- Torn recent basil and chopped parsley – I sprinkle them over the ultimate dish for a recent, vibrant crowning glory.
- And salt and pepper – To make all of the flavors pop!
Discover the whole recipe with measurements under.
Technique
This baked ziti recipe is simple to make! Right here’s the way it goes:
First, cook dinner the pasta. Deliver a big pot of salted water to a boil, and cook dinner the pasta till al dente. Watch out to not overcook it! It’s going to soften extra whereas it bakes.
Whereas the pasta cooks, make the ricotta cheese combination. Stir collectively the ricotta, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, purple pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Subsequent, sauté the spinach. Drain the pasta, and warmth a glug of olive oil in the identical pot. Sauté the spinach till it’s simply wilted.
- Tip: Work in batches right here! I do 1/2 pound at a time in order that the spinach cooks evenly.
Gently squeeze among the extra moisture out of the sautéed spinach and roughly chop it.
Then, combine the whole lot collectively. Return many of the spinach and all of the pasta to the pot, together with all however 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Stir till the whole lot is properly mixed.
Lastly, layer it up. Unfold the remaining sauce on the underside of a big casserole dish, and unfold half the pasta combination over it. Dollop within the ricotta and the reserved spinach, and scoop the remainder of the pasta on prime. High with the grated cheese and drizzle with olive oil.
Bake the pasta at 425°F till the cheese is golden brown and effervescent, about 20 minutes. Get pleasure from!
How one can Retailer and Reheat Baked Ziti
Leftover baked ziti retains properly in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat it within the microwave or a 325°F oven.
You may as well make this recipe forward. Assemble the baked ziti just a few hours, or as much as a day, prematurely. Cowl it, and retailer it within the fridge. Enable it to take a seat at room temperature for half-hour earlier than baking in response to the recipe.
Are you able to freeze baked ziti?
Sure! This baked ziti recipe freezes properly.
- Assemble it as much as the purpose of baking, cowl the pan tightly with foil, and freeze for as much as 3 months.
- Switch it to the fridge to thaw in a single day.
- To reheat, bake, coated, at 400°F till heated by way of, about half-hour. Uncover and bake till the cheese on prime is browned and effervescent.
What to Serve with Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is a scrumptious principal dish. Pair it with garlic bread, garlic knots, or do-it-yourself focaccia for sopping up any stray marinara sauce. Spherical out the meal with an enormous salad. Any of those can be improbable:
Not feeling the salad? Skip it, or go for a easy veggie facet dish as a substitute. Roasted broccoli, roasted Brussels sprouts, and sautéed inexperienced beans would all be nice decisions.
Extra Favourite Consolation Meals Recipes
When you love this straightforward baked ziti recipe, attempt one in every of these comforting dishes subsequent:
Straightforward Baked Ziti
Serves 8
This baked ziti recipe is simple to make and excellent for serving a crowd. Stuffed with tangy tomato sauce, al dente pasta, and three varieties of cheese, it is comforting and scrumptious.
Forestall your display from going darkish
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Preheat the oven to 425°F. Unfold ½ cup marinara within the backside of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
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In a medium bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, garlic, lemon zest, oregano, purple pepper flakes, ½ teaspoon salt, and a number of other grinds of pepper.
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In a big pot of salted boiling water, cook dinner the pasta in response to bundle instructions till al dente. Drain.
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Return the pot again to the range. Over low warmth, drizzle the underside of the pot with a bit olive oil and add the spinach. Toss and sauté 1 to 2 minutes till simply wilted, working in batches if vital. Flip off the warmth, take away the spinach from the pot, and gently squeeze out among the extra water. Coarsely chop it and put aside.
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Add the pasta again to the pot together with the remaining marinara, many of the chopped spinach, ¼ teaspoon sea salt, and a number of other grinds of pepper and toss till mixed.
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Add half the pasta to the baking dish, prime with dollops of the ricotta, the remaining spinach, and scoop the remaining pasta on prime. High with the mozzarella and pecorino cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and bake till the cheese is browned, 16 to 22 minutes.
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Garnish with recent basil or parsley and serve scorching.
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