Description
A delicious and creamy ziti bake loaded with vegetables and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium zucchini (chopped)
- 2 bell peppers (diced (red and yellow))
- 8 oz mushrooms (sliced)
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups low-moisture mozzarella (shredded)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Toss in zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Cook until the veggies are tender and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, usually about 8-10 minutes.
- In a spacious bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sautéed vegetables, and ricotta cheese. Stir gently until everything is evenly coated and creamy.
- Spread a generous layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Carefully spoon the pasta-veggie mixture over the sauce, making sure it’s evenly distributed.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the pasta mixture, creating a lovely blanket of cheese that will melt beautifully.
- Place the baking dish in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) and bake for 20-30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Remove the ziti from the oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before slicing. This helps everything hold together beautifully.
Notes
- This dish can be made ahead of time and refrigerated before baking.
- Feel free to add other vegetables according to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 45mg