Meatless Baked Ziti
This meatless baked ziti is warm and comforting, has a cheesy interior and perfectly golden top, and is made with a from scratch tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons basil dried
- 1 pound ziti or other short pasta shape
- ½ cup fontina shredded
- ½ cup parmesan shredded, divided
- ½ cup mozzarella cubed, divided
- 1 cup mozzarella shredded
- basil fresh, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 3.5-quart circular or 9x13 rectangular baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper, stirring until garlic is fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Add sauce, kosher salt, black pepper, and dried basil. Stir to combine and simmer over low heat, without letting it reduce too much.2 teaspoons olive oil, 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper, 2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoons basil
- Meanwhile, cook pasta until slightly shy of al dente (as it will continue to cook in the oven). Drain pasta and return to pot.1 pound ziti
- Add fontina and ¼ cup of parmesan to sauce, stirring to combine and until melted. Add pasta and stir liberally to ensure sauce is evenly distributed.½ cup fontina, ½ cup parmesan
- Pour half of pasta into dish, then add half of cubed mozzarella, spreading evenly over pasta. Repeat with other half of pasta and mozzarella. Top with shredded mozzarella and remaining parmesan, then sprinkle with additional salt and pepper.½ cup mozzarella, 1 cup mozzarella, ½ cup parmesan
- Bake for 30 minutes uncovered or until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling. Serve immediately, topped with fresh basil.basil
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
