Baked Ziti

Baked Ziti

  • 1 onion, minced

  • 2 Tbs. olive oil

  • 4 cloves garlic minced

  • 1 tsp dried basil

  • 1 tsp fennel seed

  • 1 tsp. dried oregano

  • kosher salt

  • 1 lb ground chicken (or ground turkey or beef)

  • 3 cups marinara sauce

  • 12 oz dried pasta such as ziti or rigatoni

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • 2 Tbs. heavy cream

  • 2 cups mozzarelle

  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Cook off pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente (about 2 minutes less than what the packaging says) .

Saute onion in olive oil for 4 to 6 minutes or until soft and translucent. Add garlic, basil, oregano, and red pepper flake. Saute for 30 seconds. Add ground chicken and cook until chicken is browned. Remove from heat and place in a large bowl. Add 2 cups marinara sauce and cooked pasta. Stir well.

Spoon half of the pasta mixture into a baking dish. (THIS is the one I am using). Top with dollops of ricotta. Add the rest of the pasta mixture and place remaining dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese and bake covered with foil for 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake until golden brown, another 10 minutes.

Amanda FredericksonComment