Easy Meatless Baked Ziti (Print-Friendly Version)
Classic ziti layered with ricotta, mozzarella, and a flavorful tomato sauce for an easy, meatless dinner.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
454 g (16 oz) ziti pasta
→ Sauce
02 -
710 ml (24 oz) jarred pasta sauce
→ Cheeses
03 -
425 g (15 oz) whole milk ricotta cheese
04 -
226 g (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
05 -
100 g (1 cup) grated pecorino romano cheese
→ Fresh Flavourings
06 -
2 garlic cloves, minced
07 -
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
08 -
1 large egg
09 -
0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
# How to Make It:
01 -
Set the oven to 190°C (375°F) to preheat.
02 -
Cook the ziti in lightly salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 -
In a large mixing bowl, blend 360 ml (1.5 cups) of pasta sauce with ricotta cheese, 120 g (1 cup) of mozzarella, the egg, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and ground black pepper until homogeneous.
04 -
Spread 120 ml (0.5 cup) of pasta sauce on the base of a 33 x 23 cm (13 x 9-inch) baking dish. Add the cooked pasta and ricotta mixture, stirring gently to combine. Pour the remaining 240 ml (1 cup) of pasta sauce evenly over the top. Sprinkle over the rest of the mozzarella and all of the pecorino romano.
05 -
Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10–15 minutes until bubbling and cheeses are melted.
06 -
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes to allow the bake to set before slicing and serving.
# Important Notes:
01 -
Allowing the baked ziti to rest before serving ensures the layers hold together for cleaner slices.