Tender pasta layered with tomato sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella, baked until golden and bubbly.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti or penne pasta
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp dried basil
09 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
10 - 1 tsp sugar
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese Mixture
12 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
13 - 1 large egg
14 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
→ Assembly
16 - 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
17 - Additional grated Parmesan, for topping
# Step-by-Step Directions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta for 2 minutes less than package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté for 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine and simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
05 - In a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese, egg, grated Parmesan, and fresh parsley. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined.
06 - Transfer the cooked pasta to a large bowl. Pour half of the prepared tomato sauce over the pasta and toss gently to coat evenly.
07 - Spread half the sauced pasta across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of half the ricotta mixture over the pasta and gently spread. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella cheese.
08 - Repeat with remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella. Pour the remaining tomato sauce evenly over the top layer. Finish with additional grated Parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes to heat through and allow flavors to meld.
10 - Remove the foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top. Let the ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the layers to set.
