Name: Easy Baked Ziti Without Meat
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 Servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb ziti pasta; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 yellow onion; 4 cloves garlic; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.5 tsp black pepper; 0.5 tsp Italian seasoning; 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes; 5 cups marinara sauce; 15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese; 1 egg; 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese; 12 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese; Fresh basil or parsley

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Easy Baked Ziti Without Meat

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

Cook the pasta. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until just shy of al dente (about 1–2 minutes less than package directions). Drain and set aside.

Build the sauce base. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5–6 minutes, until soft and translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Stir in the salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using).

Pour in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5–7 minutes to let the flavors meld. Remove from heat.

Make the ricotta mixture. In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta, egg (if using), ½ of the Parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella. Season lightly with salt and pepper.

Assemble the baked ziti. Toss the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce until evenly coated. Spread half of the pasta into the dish, dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the top, and gently swirl it in. Repeat with the remaining pasta and ricotta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan evenly over the top.

Bake + rest. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top. If you want it a little darker, you can broil it for a few minutes (just watch it closely!). Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.

Notes

Storage Instructions – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Reheat in the microwave or cover with foil and warm in a 350°F oven until heated through.

To freeze, wrap tightly and store for up to 3 months. (more info on freezing up in the blog post)

Nutrition

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Tips & Tricks (5)

Prevent Watery Pasta 💧
Cook your ziti to al dente (slightly firm) since it will continue cooking in the oven; drain well and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking and excess moisture in the final dish.
Create a Creamy Ricotta Mixture 🧀
Whisk the egg into room-temperature ricotta with milk, salt, and pepper before layering to achieve a smooth, spreadable consistency that distributes evenly throughout the pasta.
Caramelize Your Aromatics 🧅
Sauté the garlic and onions slowly over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until golden and fragrant before mixing into your marinara sauce to deepen the overall flavor profile.
Reserve Pasta Water for Sauce 🍝
Save 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining; mix a splash into your marinara to loosen the sauce and help it coat the pasta more evenly in the final dish.
Layer Strategically for Even Melting 🔥
Alternate thin layers of pasta mixture with ricotta and sauce, then finish with a generous mozzarella layer on top to ensure the cheese melts uniformly and creates a golden crust.