Weeknight Baked Ziti Tomato (Print)

Hearty ziti pasta baked with burst cherry tomatoes, ricotta, and golden cheese. Comfort food made easy.

# Components:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz ziti pasta

→ Tomato Sauce

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1.3 lbs cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
06 - 1 tsp dried oregano
07 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
08 - 1 tsp sugar
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese

10 - 9 oz ricotta cheese
11 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped (plus more for garnish)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the cherry tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until tomatoes burst and release their juices, about 8–10 minutes. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in chopped basil.
04 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained ziti, tomato sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix gently until pasta is well coated.
05 - Transfer half the pasta mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella and Parmesan. Layer remaining pasta on top, finishing with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
06 - Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and golden.
07 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under an hour from start to finish
  • Uses simple ingredients most home cooks already have
  • Creates that authentic Italian comfort food experience without complicated techniques
02 -
  • Can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated before baking
  • Makes excellent leftovers that reheat beautifully in the microwave or oven
  • Perfect for introducing children to homemade Italian food without overwhelming flavors
03 -
  • Always reserve a cup of pasta cooking water before draining. If your tomato mixture seems dry, add a splash of this starchy water to create a silkier sauce.
  • When selecting cherry tomatoes, look for ones that yield slightly to pressure but aren't soft these are at peak ripeness and will create the most flavorful sauce.
  • For the ultimate cheese pull effect, let the baked ziti cool for exactly 5 minutes before serving this allows the cheese to set just enough while remaining perfectly melty.

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