Did you know that you can make Baked Ziti without the ricotta cheese and it will be delicious? You can! This recipe for Baked Ziti has just 4 ingredients, all of which are easy to keep on hand. You don't need the ricotta because the mozzarella in the sauce mixture adds cheesiness, then you add even more mozzarella with the Parmesan cheese on top! The sauce brings all the flavor and you can even change it up to make it perfect for you. Use Traditional for a classic dish, or try Roasted Garlic and & Herb, or Spicy Marinara if you like some heat! This Baked Ziti is a recipe you can throw together for an easy weeknight dinner!
cost per recipe: $5.55
Step 1
Cook and drain the ziti according to the package directions. While the ziti is cooking, heat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2
Stir the sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and ziti in a large bowl. Spoon the mixture into an 11x8x2-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Step 3
Bake for 30 minutes or until hot.
Easy and budget friendly!
This is a very easy recipe that requires very few items that are budget friendly compared to other baked ziti recipes. We make this often for pot lucks and other events.
Crazily simple and inexpensive
I saw this recipe last night and on a whim, and an empty stomach, ran out and bought the ingredients to make it. I'm glad I bought two jars of sauce as one jar was definitely NOT enough---but the recipe made so much food that my husband and I had enough for three meals and I took a serving each to my sister and to my mother, who also loved it!
I did modify the recipe slightly: I added a pound of cooked Jimmy Dean Italian sausage, one jar of the recommended Roasted Garlic and Herb Prego and the second jar was Italian Sausage and Garlic Prego. Also, instead of just shredded mozzarella I used a blend of Mozzarella, Romano, Asiago and Fontina cheeses.
With just these ingredients and no seasonings, it was amazing! It was my first time making ziti, so I am very happy and I plan to make this again very soon!
Needed a lot more!
Overall this was not a horrible recipe, but it really needs a lot more than what is calls for. Meat, spices, sauce (I prefer the Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic sauce), fresh garlic, onions and etc.! Also, even with the extra jar of sauce that I added and the less baking time of 20 minutes I still feel like it was a bit too dry. I am not a very good cook, so the upside to this recipe is that it is quick and very easy to do. You do not need a lot of preparation time.
It is a keeper
I made the pasta a head of time. I used the Prego Meat Sauce with 1 clove of garlic. Prepared as directed and it was good. Very easy and will be a keeper my household.
Delicious, and quick!
I loved this recipe!
I found that I should have used more than one can of sauce, I didn't have as much sauce as I would have liked. Maybe a can and a half would have done it. It was good, and my husband went back for seconds, and even took the last of the leftovers to work for lunch the next day! Definitely a winner!
This nutritional information refers to each serving of the entire recipe and not just the products used as ingredients.
