Delicious Meatless Baked Ziti

Ingredients

• 1 (16-ounce) box ziti pasta
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing the pan
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil.
2. Cook the ziti according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, and bell pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
4. In a medium bowl, combine the cooked vegetables, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, parsley, pepper, and salt. Stir to combine.
5. Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Top with half of the ziti, followed by half of the cheese mixture. Spread 1/2 cup of the marinara sauce on top. Repeat with the remaining ziti, cheese mixture, and marinara sauce.
6. Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
7. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Interesting Facts

• Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American dish.
• This vegetarian version of the dish is packed with flavor and nutrition.
• Ziti is a tubular pasta shape, similar to penne.