Description
This Meatless Baked Ziti is a family favorite comfort dish packed with cheesy layers, rich marinara, and tender pasta—no meat required. It’s baked to golden, bubbly perfection and ideal for make-ahead dinners, freezer meals, or feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
16 oz ziti pasta
3 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
½ small onion, diced (optional)
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente (about 1–2 minutes less than package instructions). Drain and toss with olive oil.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix drained pasta with 3 cups of marinara sauce until well coated.
5. In a 9×13-inch casserole dish, layer pasta, dollops of ricotta mixture, and more pasta. Repeat layers until the dish is full.
6. Top with remaining sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes until bubbly.
8. Optional: Broil for 1–2 minutes for a golden cheese top.
9. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Don’t overcook the pasta—al dente is key so it doesn’t turn mushy after baking.
Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting and flavor.
You can make it ahead and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of dish
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: pasta, vegetarian, baked ziti, meatless casserole