Description
A creamy, cheesy baked ziti recipe featuring a homemade tomato sauce and a luscious mascarpone layer instead of ricotta.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese
- 1 oz beef bacon, finely chopped (optional)
- 8 oz provolone cheese, shredded
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 (28 oz) can tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt (plus more to taste)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic, grated (for cheese mixture)
- Pinch of salt (for cheese mixture)
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, add the beef bacon (if using), and sauté until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic, reduce heat, and sauté for another 5 minutes until soft.
- Stir in the red pepper flakes and tomato paste, cooking for 2 minutes. Pour in the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and 1 teaspoon of salt, then let the sauce simmer for about 25 minutes.
- Boil the ziti in salted water according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and toss the pasta with about two-thirds of the prepared tomato sauce, reserving the rest.
- In a small bowl, mix the mascarpone cheese with one grated garlic clove and a pinch of salt.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Layer half the pasta in a 9×13 baking dish, dot with the mascarpone mixture, and top with half of the shredded mozzarella and provolone. Add about a cup of the reserved sauce.
- Add the remaining pasta, top with the rest of the cheeses, and spoon the remaining sauce over the top. Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and browned.
Notes
Traditional recipes often use pork pancetta, but I have substituted beef bacon here for a similar smoky flavor without the pork. You can also omit it entirely for a vegetarian version.
- Prep Time: 35 min
- Resting Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 55 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: Cheese Baked Ziti, easy pasta bake, homemade tomato sauce, vegetarian dinner option, family meal