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One-Dish No-Boil Baked Ziti
Rachel Kim

One-Dish No-Boil Baked Ziti

No-boil ziti needs more liquid than looks reasonable at the start. It also needs a tight foil seal. The pasta takes what it needs, leaving thick sauce around the tubes. Dollop the ricotta; those pockets are the good part.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 12 oz dry ziti pasta
  • 1 jar 32 oz marinara sauce
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 container 15 oz whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and add the dry ziti to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
  2. Pour in the marinara and water, season with the salt and black pepper, and stir until the pasta lies mostly below the liquid.
  3. Drop the ricotta in tablespoon-size pockets across the dish without blending them into the sauce.
  4. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes, until the ziti is nearly tender.
  5. Remove the foil, stir once around the ricotta pockets, and cover the top with mozzarella.
  6. Bake uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes more, until bubbling and browned, then rest for 10 minutes.