Description
This Meatless Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food—baked to perfection with layers of tender pasta, creamy ricotta, savory marinara, and a blanket of melted mozzarella. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or prepping for the week, this vegetarian pasta bake delivers all the cozy flavors without any meat.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
4 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook ziti until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce and warm through.
4. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, half of the parmesan, chopped herbs, salt, and pepper.
5. Spread a layer of sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Add half the cooked pasta, then dollop with half the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
6. Repeat the layers with remaining pasta, ricotta, sauce, and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
7. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden.
8. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Don’t overcook the pasta—keep it al dente to prevent it from becoming too soft while baking.
For extra flavor, stir some red pepper flakes or Italian seasoning into the marinara.
Make ahead tip: assemble the dish, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: vegetarian pasta, meatless baked ziti, comfort food, cheesy ziti