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Baked Meatball Pasta

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PREP TIME
15 min
COOKING TIME
45 min
TOTAL TIME
60 min
SERVINGS
8 servings
Dinner
Baked Meatball Pasta
Ingredients
  • 1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
  • 1 1/2 pounds frozen cooked meatballs, thawed
  • 2 (28 ounce) jars prepared marinara sauce
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
1
Begin by filling a large pot with water and adding a moderate amount of salt. Place the pot on high heat and bring the water to a rolling boil.
2
Add ziti pasta to the boiling water and cook, occasionally stirring the pot, for approximately 8 minutes, which is about 3 minutes less than the package's recommended cooking time.
3
Once cooked, remove the pasta from the water with a colander and drain it thoroughly.
4
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
5
Lightly coat the bottom of a 13x9 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
6
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the meatballs until they are evenly browned on all sides, approximately 5 minutes.
7
Add marinara sauce and ricotta cheese to the skillet with the meatballs, stirring until they are well combined.
8
Add cooked ziti pasta to the skillet with the meatballs and sauce, mixing until everything is well combined.
9
Season the pasta mixture with Italian seasoning and garlic powder to taste.
10
Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a layer of marinara sauce without meatballs.
11
Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sauce layer.
12
Add another layer of marinara sauce with meatballs on top and sprinkle with 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.
13
Add another layer of 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top of the meatball mixture.
14
Add the rest of the marinara sauce and meatball mixture on top, followed by the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese.
15
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent the cheese from burning.
16
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
17
Remove the foil from the baking dish and continue baking for an additional 10 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese starts to turn golden brown.
18
Serve hot and enjoy your delicious baked ziti!