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Ina Garten Baked Ziti Recipe

Ina Garten Baked Ziti Recipe

Emily Grace
If you love easy and comforting pasta dishes, this Ina Garten Baked Ziti Recipe is perfect. Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American meal.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • 3 cups marinara or tomato sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs basil, oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Fresh basil leaves optional, for garnish

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven

  • Set oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil or butter.

Boil Pasta

  • Cook ziti pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and toss lightly with olive oil.

Prepare Tomato Sauce

  • In a saucepan, heat tomato sauce with garlic, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Stir occasionally.

Mix Ricotta and Sauce

  • In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese with 1/2 cup of tomato sauce. Stir until smooth.

Layer Pasta

  • Place half of cooked ziti in baking dish. Spread half of ricotta mixture evenly on top.

Add Cheese

  • Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella over ricotta layer. Add a little Parmesan if desired.

Add Remaining Pasta

  • Add the remaining ziti over the cheese layer. Spread remaining ricotta mixture evenly.

Top With Cheese

  • Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top. Ensure even coverage for golden cheese.

Cover and Bake

  • Cover dish with foil. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes to heat thoroughly.

Remove Foil and Bake

  • Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes. Cheese should be golden and bubbly.

Let it Rest

  • Take out from oven and let cool for 5 minutes. This helps the layers set.

Garnish and Serve

  • Garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve warm and enjoy cheesy, delicious baked ziti.

Notes

  • Do not overcook pasta; it will bake more in the oven.
  • Use fresh mozzarella for gooey cheese.
  • Stir sauce occasionally to avoid burning.
  • Cover with foil to prevent cheese from browning too fast.
  • Let baked ziti rest before cutting to keep layers intact.
Keyword Ina Garten Baked Ziti Recipe