Description
This Meatless Baked Ziti is the ultimate vegetarian comfort food. Layered with ziti pasta, rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and bubbly mozzarella, it’s a hearty, satisfying baked pasta dish perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or a cozy night in. Ideal for meatless Mondays, it’s flavorful, freezer-friendly, and always a hit.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
3 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Boil the ziti in salted water until just under al dente, about 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese with the egg, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning until smooth.
3. Grease a baking dish and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce. Add half the pasta, then layer with ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
4. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, sauce, and cheeses. Finish with extra mozzarella on top.
5. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
6. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving for cleaner slices.
Notes
Let the dish sit before slicing to help it set.
You can add spinach or mushrooms to the layers for extra veggies.
Swap ziti with penne or rigatoni if needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/6th of dish)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 80mg