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Creamy Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Mozzarella

The ultimate classic Italian pasta casserole featuring ziti layered with a rich marinara sauce, a creamy ricotta filling, and a generous topping of bubbly mozzarella cheese.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Rest Time 10 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American-Italian, Italian
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Sauce
  • 1 lb Ziti pasta cooked al dente
  • 1 jar marinara sauce 24-28 oz, or 3 cups homemade
  • 0.5 cup water or red wine optional, for thinning sauce
Cheese and Filling
  • 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg lightly beaten
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus 2 Tbsp for topping
  • 8 oz shredded mozzarella cheese divided into 4 oz and 4 oz
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Topping
  • 0.25 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp olive oil for tossing breadcrumbs

Equipment

  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Large pot
  • Large mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook ziti until al dente (1 minute less than package directions). Drain well.
  3. In a saucepan, simmer marinara sauce with water (or wine) and seasonings for 5 minutes. Spread 1/2 cup of this sauce on the bottom of the prepared dish.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, beaten egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan, parsley, and seasonings. Set aside.
  5. In the pasta pot, combine the drained ziti with the remaining marinara sauce and 4 oz (half) of the mozzarella. Toss until fully coated.
  6. Layer half of the sauced ziti mixture in the baking dish. Spread the entire ricotta mixture evenly over this layer. Top with the remaining sauced ziti mixture.
  7. Sprinkle the remaining 4 oz of mozzarella and 2 Tbsp of Parmesan over the top. Toss breadcrumbs with olive oil and sprinkle over the cheese.
  8. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

For a meatier dish, mix 1 lb of cooked ground beef or Italian sausage into the marinara sauce before tossing with the pasta. Always let the casserole rest before serving to ensure the cheese sets properly.