Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe for a Comforting Pasta Dinner
A rich and hearty Meatless Baked Ziti Recipe for a Comforting Pasta Dinner, layered with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and savory pasta sauce.
8 Servings
Ingredients
- 16 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 24-ounce jar pasta sauce, divided
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Prepare the oven and pasta
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly.
Combine the pasta and filling
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with 1 ½ cups of pasta sauce, ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, parsley, beaten egg, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly coated.
Assemble the dish
- Lightly grease a 9×13×2-inch baking dish. Transfer the pasta mixture into the dish, spreading it evenly. Top with the remaining 1 ½ cups of pasta sauce, then sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly across the surface.
Bake the ziti
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Rest and serve
- Remove from the oven and allow the baked ziti to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve warm for best results.
Notes
To prepare a gluten-free version of this recipe, substitute the ziti pasta with certified gluten-free pasta. Additionally, ensure the pasta sauce is labeled gluten free. All other ingredients in this dish are naturally gluten free.