This mouth-watering Baked Ziti is the most requested dinner recipe from my family! It’s Easy, cheesy and SO good!! Pair it with a side salad and garlic bread for a quick weeknight meal! It also goes perfectly with a glass of vino. 😉

Ingredients

1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
1 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 (24-ounce) jars marinara sauce
1 pound dried ziti pasta
1 (16-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
Fresh chopped basil or parsley leaves, for garnish (optional)

This especially makes for the perfect warm and cozy comfort food on a rainy or chilly day.

Directions

Heat the oven to 400°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Pour marinara sauce into baking dish. Add ziti pasta, cubed mozzarella, and half the Parmesan cheese.
Toss to combine and coat the pasta in the sauce.
Dollop whole-milk ricotta cheese over mixture and gently stir.
Spread mixture into an even layer and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake until the pasta is almost tender (about 40 mins.)
Uncover and continue baking until pasta is tender (about 20 mins more.)
Broil until the top is browned (about 2 to 3 minutes.) Let cool, garnish the basil or parsley.

Note: Don’t worry if you don’t have a broiler option; you can just continue baking your Baked Ziti in the oven.

Pasta topped with dollops of Ricotta Cheese

I’m all about any recipes that means less dishes! Just dump everything in this baking pan and you’re all set!

Here’s a Quick Video Tutorial!

Perfect Presentation Platters

This Baked Ziti looks so delicious is just about any baking dish! Here are some of my favorites:

Baking Dish – How cute are these Pioneer Woman designs from Walmart? I also this stoneware version from Target or these pretty designs from Walmart! For a smaller dish, this MacKenzie-Childs checkered dish is beautiful.
Checkered Rectangular Dish– This Macenzie-Childs checkered dish is perfect for garlic bread, bagels, silverware, and more!
Wooden Serving Boards: I use wooden serving boards all the time for prep, presentation, and kitchen decor! To start, I used my favorite MacKenzie Childs wooden checkered board. You also may enjoy, this option from Kirklands, this option from Amazon, or this raised trivet from Target. If you’re looking to start or add to a collection, Antique Hardware has this set of 3 that I get so much use out of year-round!

Baked Ziti in a white platter on a wooden serving board

Can I Prep This Baked Ziti Ahead of Time?

Yes! Once all the ingredients are ready, you can cover with Saran Wrap or foil and place in the fridge, where it should stay fresh for 2-3 days before baking.

Leanna holding a plate with a delicious baked pasta dish

Storing Leftovers

This Baked Ziti is just as delicious the next day! To store leftovers, you can either cover your baking dish with Saran Wrap and store in the fridge, or transfer to a Tupperware container. Leftovers should stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 days!

Baked Ziti on a MacKenzie-Childs Baing Dish

Enjoy!

I hope you love this Baked Ziti as much as my family does! For more yummy and quick recipes, you may also enjoy this Sheet Pan Lasagna, Healthy Chicken Bruschetta Bake, or Easy One-Pot Lasagna. It’s such a joy for me to share these recipes with you and I’m so grateful for all of your support!