# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti or penne pasta
→ Sauce
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
07 - 1 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1 tsp dried basil
09 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
10 - 1 tsp sugar
11 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Cheese Mixture
12 - 15 oz ricotta cheese
13 - 1 large egg
14 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
15 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
→ Assembly
16 - 2 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
17 - Additional grated Parmesan, for topping
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook ziti pasta until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10-15 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
05 - Combine ricotta, egg, Parmesan, and parsley in a bowl. Mix thoroughly until smooth and season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Transfer drained pasta to a large bowl. Add half the prepared tomato sauce and toss until pasta is evenly coated.
07 - Spread half the sauced pasta across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of half the ricotta mixture over pasta and spread gently. Sprinkle with half the mozzarella.
08 - Repeat layers with remaining pasta, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella. Pour remaining tomato sauce over the top layer and sprinkle with extra grated Parmesan.
09 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes to heat through and melt cheese.
10 - Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
11 - Remove from oven and let baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
