4 Cheese Baked Ziti
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this 4 Cheese Baked Ziti, a rich and creamy pasta dish that’s perfect for family dinners or special occasions. This recipe beautifully layers tender ziti pasta with a luscious blend of ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and tangy feta cheese, all enveloped in a fragrant marinara sauce infused with garlic and Italian seasoning. Baked to perfection with a golden, bubbly cheese topping, this dish offers a delightful harmony of melted cheeses and hearty tomato flavors. Ready in under an hour and served piping hot with optional fresh basil garnish, this baked ziti is destined to become a crowd favorite. Whether it’s a weeknight meal or your go-to potluck recipe, this classic pasta bake delivers comforting, cheesy goodness in every bite.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions, but reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes so the pasta is slightly undercooked. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, until fragrant.
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the garlic. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
In a large mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, and feta cheese. Stir well to create the cheese mixture.
Add the partially cooked ziti pasta to the cheese mixture and gently toss to coat the pasta in the cheese.
Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce evenly along the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer half of the pasta and cheese mixture over the sauce.
Spread another 1-1.5 cups of marinara sauce over the first layer of pasta. Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheese mixture, then spread the rest of the marinara sauce on top.
Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the dish.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and slightly golden.
Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired and serve warm.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3828 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 161.3 g | 207% | |
| Saturated Fat | 82.0 g | 410% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 498 mg | 166% | |
| Sodium | 8778 mg | 382% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 403.9 g | 147% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 35.5 g | 127% | |
| Total Sugars | 36.0 g | ||
| Protein | 205.3 g | 411% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 4170 mg | 321% | |
| Iron | 22.2 mg | 123% | |
| Potassium | 426 mg | 9% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
