Baked Ziti Recipe | Baked Pasta Dishes | Chef Zee Cooks

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Prepare the ricotta cheese by adding grated Parmesan cheese, a tiny bit of salt, and a tiny bit of black pepper; mix until well combined and set aside.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a good amount of salt to season the pasta.

Add penne pasta to the boiling water and cook until just shy of al dente, then drain without shocking it.

In a baking dish, add the hot penne pasta and a generous amount of good quality marinara sauce; mix well.

Add fresh basil to the pasta and sauce mixture; mix until well combined.

Add a little bit of freshly grated mozzarella cheese to the pasta; mix it in for melted cheese throughout.

Add big dollops of the ricotta cheese to the pasta and gently fold it in without over mixing, leaving some clumps visible.

Add more marinara sauce and fresh basil to the pasta; spread evenly throughout.

Top with freshly shredded mozzarella cheese, adding as much as desired.

Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).

Bake the baked ziti uncovered for about 25 minutes or until the cheese has melted and caramelized to your liking.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens