Description
Hearty Christmas cheesy easy baked ziti brings comforting Italian-American flavors to holiday gatherings. Melted cheese, rich marinara, and tender pasta create a delicious main dish you’ll want to share with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti noodles
- 3 cups (340 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 15 ounces (425 grams) ricotta cheese
Sauce:
- 24 ounces (680 grams) pasta sauce
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
(none specified in original recipe)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), ensuring an even temperature for optimal cooking.
- Boil ziti noodles in a large pot according to package directions until al dente, then drain thoroughly and return to the pot.
- Create a creamy base by whisking together ricotta cheese, half the mozzarella, and pasta sauce in a spacious mixing bowl until smooth and well-incorporated.
- Gently fold the cooked ziti noodles into the cheese and sauce mixture, ensuring each noodle is evenly coated with the rich blend.
- Coat a large baking dish with nonstick spray, then transfer the pasta mixture, spreading it uniformly to create an even layer.
- Generously scatter the remaining mozzarella cheese across the top of the pasta, creating a complete cheesy coverage.
- Transfer the dish to the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt completely and develop a golden, bubbly surface.
- Remove from the oven and let the ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to settle and the dish to cool slightly.
Notes
- Swap ricotta for cottage cheese to reduce fat content and add a lighter texture to the dish.
- Use whole wheat ziti noodles for added fiber and a more nutritious meal option.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like adding parmesan or pecorino for extra depth of flavor.
- Prepare the dish ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, perfect for busy holiday meal planning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 50mg