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No-boil baked ziti with bubbling melted mozzarella in a baking dish

Lazy No-Boil Baked Ziti

Uncooked ziti mixed with marinara, water, ricotta, and mozzarella, then baked until tender and bubbly. Just 10 minutes of hands-on work.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ziti or penne pasta uncooked
  • 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Method
 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, stir together the uncooked pasta, marinara, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder until the pasta is coated and mostly submerged.
  3. Dollop spoonfuls of ricotta over the pasta and gently swirl them in.
  4. Cover tightly with foil and bake 45–50 minutes, stirring once halfway, until the pasta is tender.
  5. Uncover, sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake 10 minutes more, until melted and bubbly.
  6. Rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • Cover tightly so the steam can cook the pasta.
  • Add cooked Italian sausage or ground beef for a heartier dish.
  • Stir in a handful of spinach before baking.
  • Swap ricotta for cottage cheese to save money.