Oven-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 Italian pasta casserole layered with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and a savory tomato sauce, baked to bubbly perfection. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 55 minutes, pairs ziti pasta, olive oil, garlic cloves, minced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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 480 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 rolling boil. Add 1 lb ziti pasta and cook for 8 minutes until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Step 2: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  3. Step 3: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1 tbsp dried Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
  4. Step 4: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
  5. Step 5: Transfer half the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella over the layer. Add remaining pasta and top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.
  6. Step 6: Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.

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