Italian-Style Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Mozzarella

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A comforting baked pasta dish layered with creamy ricotta, tangy tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese, perfect for family dinners. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 40 min Serves 6 Italian cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz ziti pasta and cook for 8 minutes until just al dente. Drain pasta and set aside.
  2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer sauce for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
  4. Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked ziti, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, and 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil. Mix gently until evenly combined.
  5. Step 5: Transfer half of the pasta mixture into a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
  6. Step 6: Add remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.
  7. Step 7: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
  8. Step 8: Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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