Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
This Easy Baked Ziti Recipe is the kind of cozy weeknight dinner that feels like comfort food but still comes together in about 30 minutes. Everything starts in one skillet with pasta simmered right in a simple marinara sauce, then it gets finished with cream, Parmesan, and a layer of melted mozzarella on to
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 471kcal
Ingredients
- 1 marinara sauce 28 oz
- 3 cups water
- 16 ounces ziti
- Salt pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet on a medium/high heat and add marinara sauce. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add water, ziti, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes and mix. Cover with a lid and cook for about 15-20 minutes, stirring every few minutes, so pasta won’t stick together.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F.
- When the pasta is cooked, turn off the stove, add heavy cream and grated parmesan and mix. Add more salt if needed. Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the pasta.
- Bake at 450°F for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.
Video
Notes
- Use a large, deep skillet so the pasta has enough room to cook evenly in the sauce.
- Stir the ziti every few minutes while it simmers. This is the most important step for preventing the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Keep the skillet covered while the pasta cooks so the liquid does not evaporate too quickly.
- Wait to adjust the salt until after you stir in the Parmesan, since the cheese already adds salty flavor.
- If the pasta looks too thick before baking, add a small splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition
Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 404mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 573IU | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 1mg
