Description
Indulge in this comforting Meatless Baked Ziti, a flavorful vegetarian pasta bake that’s cheesy, saucy, and satisfying. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Cheese:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Make the sauce: Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Assemble: Combine cooked pasta with sauce and ricotta. Spread half in a baking dish, top with cheeses, then repeat layers.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 10 more minutes until bubbly and browned.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil and serving.
Notes
- You can add sautéed spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for extra vegetables.
- Use cottage cheese instead of ricotta for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
