Got a group gathering at your house for dinner? Whether it’s a celebration for something special or you’re just happy to be together, it sounds like this Party Ziti should be what’s served! You know everyone is sure to love the bouncy ziti noodles all twirled together with the rich marinara, creamy and seasoned ricotta, and of course, a mound of melty cheese. Be careful, they might love Party Ziti so much that this turns into a weekly occasion! And hey, that sounds like a reason to celebrate, right?!
Ingredients
- 4 cups jarred marinara sauce, divided
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, divided
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 (16-ounce) box ziti pasta
- extra-virgin olive oil, to taste
- 16 ounces fresh spinach
- 1 1/2 cups smoked mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pecorino or parmesan cheese, grated
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Step 2 –Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
Step 3 –In a medium bowl, add the ricotta cheese, the garlic, the lemon zest, the oregano, the red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the pepper and stir to combine.
Step 4 –In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the water and pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.
Step 5 –Return the pot to the stovetop over low heat. Add the extra-virgin olive oil and the spinach and sauté, while tossing, until it has just wilted. Work in batches, as needed, and transfer the cooked spinach to a bowl.
Step 6 –Turn off the heat. Gently squeeze the cooked spinach in the bowl to release some of the excess water.
Step 7 –Coarsely chop the spinach and place it into a clean bowl.
Step 8 –In the same pot, add the cooked pasta, the remaining marinara, 3/4 of the chopped spinach, the remaining salt, and the pepper and toss to combine.
Step 9 –Spread 1/2 of the pasta mixture over the marinara layer in the baking dish, top with dollops of the ricotta mixture, and sprinkle with the remaining chopped spinach.
Step 10 –Top the spinach layer with the remaining pasta mixture, then sprinkle with the mozzarella, and the pecorino cheese. Drizzle the top with the extra-virgin olive oil.
Step 11 –Bake the pasta bake until the cheese has browned, about 16-22 minutes.
Step 12 –Serve.
