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No-Boil Baked Ziti Recipe

No-Boil Baked Ziti Recipe
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This No-Boil Baked Ziti Recipe is a quick and comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish that requires no pre-boiling of noodles. Combining uncooked ziti with rich marinara sauce and creamy cheeses, it bakes to perfection in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, it’s a family-friendly meal with melty mozzarella, smooth ricotta, and a hearty meat sauce or vegetarian variations, all layered and baked until bubbly and golden.

Ingredients

Pasta and Sauce

  • Uncooked ziti pasta – 12 ounces
  • Marinara sauce – 3 cups (store-bought or homemade)

Cheeses

  • Ricotta cheese – 1 ½ cups
  • Mozzarella cheese, shredded – 2 cups (divided)
  • Parmesan cheese, grated – ¾ cup (divided)

Protein (optional)

  • Ground beef or Italian sausage – 1 pound

Aromatics and Seasoning

  • Garlic cloves, minced – 2
  • Onion, finely chopped – 1 medium
  • Italian seasoning – 1 ½ teaspoons

Optional Variations

  • Sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini – as preferred for vegetarian twist
  • Crushed red pepper flakes or diced jalapeños – to taste for spice
  • Alternative cheeses like provolone, fontina, or gouda – as desired
  • Gluten-free pasta – as substitute for gluten-free diet
  • Cooked chicken or ground turkey – as extra protein option

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sauce and ingredients: Brown the ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium heat along with sautéed garlic and chopped onions until fully cooked and fragrant. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning, then reduce heat to let the sauce simmer gently while preparing the other components.
  2. Combine pasta and cheese mixture: In a mixing bowl, blend ricotta cheese, half of the shredded mozzarella, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese to create a creamy cheese mixture that will help bind the ziti during baking.
  3. Layer the ingredients in the baking dish: Grease a deep baking dish and spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Add half of the dry ziti pasta over the sauce, spoon over half of the cheese mixture, then add more sauce on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining pasta, cheese mixture, and sauce, finishing with a top layer of sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
  4. Bake until bubbly: Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. The noodles will cook perfectly in the sauce without pre-boiling.
  5. Rest before serving: Let the baked ziti sit for 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven to allow it to set and make slicing easier.

Notes

  • Use a deep baking dish to ensure even cooking of layers.
  • Do not skip the initial sauce layer to keep noodles moist and prevent dryness.
  • Cover the dish with foil during baking to avoid burning the cheese and drying out the pasta.
  • Allow the baked ziti to rest before serving for easier slicing and better texture.
  • For extra flavor, sprinkle fresh chopped basil on top just before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: no boil baked ziti, baked pasta, quick dinner, cheesy baked ziti, easy Italian dinner, family-friendly pasta, no boil pasta recipe, baked ziti with meat, vegetarian baked ziti

Find it online: https://ninagourmet.com/no-boil-baked-ziti-recipe/