This easy-to-make baked casserole is better than lasagna!
Ingredients
- ziti pasta: 1 pack (16 ounce pack)
- ½ pounds frozen cooked meatballs: 1 piece (thawed)
- jars prepared marinara sauce: 2 piece (28 ounce)
- ricotta cheese: 1 cup
- italian seasoning: 1 tsp
- garlic powder: 1 tsp
- mozzarella cheese: 3 cups (divided, shredded)
- Parmesan cheese: 0.66667 cup (divided, grated)
Metric Conversion
Stages of cooking
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Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain pasta.
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 13x9 inch baking dish.
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Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook meatballs until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Add marinara sauce and ricotta cheese; mix to combine. Add cooked pasta and mix to combine. Season with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
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Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of sauce without meatballs. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top. Add another layer of sauce with meatballs on top and sprinkle with 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Add another layer of 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Add the rest of the sauce and meatball mixture on top, followed by remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
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Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 20 to 30 minutes.
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Remove foil and bake until cheese starts to turn golden brown, 10 to 20 minutes. Enjoy!
