Skillet Baked Ziti

Name: Skillet Baked Ziti
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 5 tablespoon olive oil (for dressing); 3 clove garlic (minced); 24 ounce marinara sauce; 0.5 cup water; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground); 1 pound ziti pasta (uncooked); 15 ounce ricotta cheese; 1 egg; 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded); 0.25 cup fresh basil (chopped, for garnish); 5 ounce mixed greens; 1 cup cherry tomato (halved); 0.5 cucumber (sliced); 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar

A cheesy, bubbling pasta bake featuring ziti tossed in marinara sauce with ricotta and mozzarella, served straight from the skillet with a fresh green salad.

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 30 min
Total: 50 min
Servings: 6
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $3.87/serving

Dietary

Vegetarian
Nut-Free
Soy-Free
Pescatarian
High-Protein

Ingredients

5 tablespoon olive oil (for dressing)
3 clove garlic (minced)
24 ounce marinara sauce
0.5 cup water
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
1 pound ziti pasta (uncooked)
15 ounce ricotta cheese
1 egg
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
0.25 cup fresh basil (chopped, for garnish)
5 ounce mixed greens
1 cup cherry tomato (halved)
0.5 cucumber (sliced)
2 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large (oven-safe) skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add 3 cloves minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour in 1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce and 1/2 cup water. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer.
Add 1 pound uncooked ziti pasta to the simmering sauce and stir to coat. Cover the skillet and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente.
While pasta cooks, in a medium bowl, combine 15 ounces ricotta cheese, 1 large egg, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
Uncover the skillet. Stir in the ricotta cheese mixture until evenly distributed. Top with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet and let stand for 5 minutes to melt the cheese, or transfer to the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes if you prefer the cheese more browned and bubbly.
While the ziti bakes/melts, prepare the salad. In a large bowl, combine 5 ounces mixed greens, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, and 1/2 sliced cucumber. Whisk together 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar and 4 tablespoons olive oil for dressing. Toss the salad with the vinaigrette.
Garnish the baked ziti with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil before serving hot with the green salad.

Notes

Using an oven-safe skillet makes for easier cooking and serving directly from the pan.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 610
Protein: 30.5 g
Carbohydrates: 65.2 g
Fat: 28.1 g
Fiber: 6.3 g
Sodium: 880 mg
Saturated Fat: 14.5 g
Sugar: 10.1 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg