Baked ziti with feta is a simple yet flavorful dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a classic Italian casserole made with pasta, cheese, and tomato sauce. The addition of feta cheese gives the dish a tangy and creamy flavor that sets it apart from other baked ziti recipes. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. It can be served as a main course or as a side dish. The best part about baked ziti with feta is that it is easy to make and can be customized to your liking.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
BEST VEGETARIAN BAKED ZITI
This recipe is all you need to make an all-star vegetarian baked ziti with ricotta, marinara sauce, and a layer of bright veggies. Perfect weeknight baked pasta, and you can prepare it ahead and store in the fridge or freezer for later. See notes.
Provided by Suzy Karadsheh
Categories Entree
Time 55m
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When ready, add the pasta and cook to al dante according to package. When ready, drain pasta but save about 1/2 cup cooking water.
- While the pasta is cooking , cook the vegetables. In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions and cook for 3 minutes or so, tossing regularly, then add diced zucchini, bell pepper, and garlic. Raise heat to medium-high and cook for about 6 to 8 minutes, tossing regularly, until vegetables have softened and cooked through. Season with kosher salt, oregano and paprika. Sit aside till needed.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, 1/4 cup grated Paremsan and 3 tbsp Mozzarella. Mix well. (If needed, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to help mix the cheese)
- Once the pasta has been cooked and drained, bring it back to the cooking pot. Add 1/2 of the marinara sauce and starchy cooking water you reserved (1/2 cup). Mix well to coat the pasta with the sauce. Fold in the ricotta cheese filling. Mix again to combine, but leave some big "pockets" of the cheese mixture.
- Grab a 9 1/2" x 13" casserole dish. Pour a little marinara sauce to the bottom of the dish, spread. Spread half the pasta. Now add the cooked vegetables and some of the torn basil on top and spread well across the pasta layer. Sprinkle a little bit of shredded mozzarella on top (leave more mozzarella for very top layer.) Add remaining pasta. Spread remaining marinara sauce on top and add remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Place the casserole dish on the middle rack of your heated oven. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes or so. Remove from heat and let rest about 10 to 15 minutes before cutting through. garnish with fresh basil.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 piece, Calories 299 calories, Sugar 7.6 g, Sodium 681.9 mg, Fat 8.6 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, TransFat 0 g, Carbohydrate 40.3 g, Fiber 3.9 g, Protein 14.9 g, Cholesterol 18.9 mg
BAKED ZITI WITH FETA
Most Baked Ziti recipes are red sauce based. This one is entirely different, but really easy! Posted for ZWT6.
Provided by IngridH
Categories Greek
Time 1h10m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease a 9x13 baking dish.
- Cook the ziti according to package directions. Drain well, then put in the prepared baking dish.
- Crumble the feta into small pieces.
- Beat the egg whites until frothy.
- Beat the egg yolks in a separate bowl.
- Folk the yolks gently into the whites; then add the milk, feta and shallot.
- Pour the egg mixture over the pasta, then top with the grated cheese.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until the top is golden brown and the sides are bubbly.
- Let cool for a few minutes before serving.
ZITI BAKED WITH SHRIMP AND FETA CHEESE - GREEK STYLE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400F. In a large saucepan set over moderate heat, heat oil until hot, and add the onion and cook it, stirring occasionally for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 3 to 4 minutes more, or until the onion and garlic are golden in color. Now add the tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste and simmer the tomatoes for 6 to 8 minutes, or until lightly thickened. Add the basil and shrimp and cook, stirring gently, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the shrimp are just turning pink. Place cooked pasta in a large bowl, gently stir in shrimp and tomato mixture, 2 tablespoons of the parsley and half of the feta cheese. Transfer to an oiled 3 quart shallow flameproof baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining feta cheese and parsley. Cover loosely with foil, place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. Run under the broiler until golden.
BAKED FETA PASTA
Whether you're an avid TikTok user or just a casual Instagram consumer, you've probably seen the feta and tomato pasta taking the social media world by storm. It has an interesting history. In 2018, Finnish blogger Tiiu Piret (@tiiupiret) shared a recipe for a pasta containing prosecco, baked feta and tomatoes. In 2019, another Finnish blogger, Jenni Häyrinen (@liemessa), shared her simplified version of the dish on her blog and Instagram using the hashtag #uuifetapasta. (Afterward, sales of feta in Finland apparently increased by 300 percent.) American food influencer MacKenzie Smith (@grilledcheesesocial) eventually heard about the dish from a friend with a Finnish boyfriend. In January 2021, she posted a translation of the popular recipe on her blog and Instagram, which led to it going viral in the United States. It's easy to see why the recipe has achieved such fame: Cherry tomatoes and a whole block of feta are baked until soft and melty, then tossed with garlic, basil and cooked noodles for a beautifully cheesy dish. We opted to use a short tube pasta so the sauce can get trapped inside each piece and added a pinch of flaky sea salt on top to perfectly balance the dish.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 45m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Toss the cherry tomatoes and olive oil with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and several grinds of black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Transfer to a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish, place the feta in the center of the tomatoes and season with a pinch of black pepper. Bake until the tomatoes have burst and the feta has softened, about 30 minutes. Raise the heat to 450 degrees F and continue to cook until the tomatoes and feta are golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 13 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, then thoroughly drain the pasta.
- As soon as the tomatoes and feta come out of the oven, stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Use the back of a spoon to smash the tomatoes and feta into a smooth and creamy sauce (it's okay if some of the oil isn't fully integrated). Add the pasta and half the basil and toss until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, stir in some pasta water a couple tablespoons at a time. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the remaining basil and a pinch of sea salt.
BAKED FETA PASTA
There's a reason this recipe went viral on TikTok! Baked Feta Pasta is about to become a new household favorite. It's simple to throw together and incredibly creamy and delicious. -Sarah Tramonte, Taste of Home Associate Culinary Producer
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 35m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. In a 13x9-in. baking dish, combine tomatoes, garlic and 1/4 cup olive oil. Place the block of feta in the center, moving tomatoes so cheese is sitting on the pan bottom. Drizzle feta with remaining oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until tomatoes skins start to split and the garlic has softened, 30-40 minutes. , Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta water. , Stir feta mixture, lightly pressing tomatoes, until combined. Add pasta and toss to combine. Stir in enough reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency. Sprinkle with basil.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 373 calories, Fat 16g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 25mg cholesterol, Sodium 507mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 12g protein.
THE BEST BAKED ZITI
I am half Italian, was raised eating the finest Italian-American cuisine, and have filmed almost 2000 recipe videos, so when you consider all of those facts, it seems incredible that I have never posted a video for baked ziti. Hopefully I make up for that long wait by posting what I think is the best version of it.
Provided by Chef John
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 2h20m
Yield 10
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Cut down the length of each sausage with a sharp knife. Remove and discard casings.
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan set over high heat. Add sausages and onion. Cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up with a spatula, until the sausage begins to brown, and the onion turns translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add oregano, thyme, and rosemary and cook for 1 minute more. Pour in marinara sauce. Pour 1 cup water into each jar to rinse out remaining sauce; add to the saucepan. Stir together and bring sauce to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Turn off heat and reserve until needed. Before using, skim any excess fat that rises to the surface.
- While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 or 2 minutes less than the directions on the package call for, about 8 minutes. Drain well and transfer into a large mixing bowl.
- Carefully add the meat sauce and stir until thoroughly combined. Let rest for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a large 9x15-inch or 9x13-inch casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer half of the pasta and sauce mixture to the prepared dish, then use a spatula to even out into a uniform layer. Top with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and then 1/2 of the grated Pecorino Romano cheese, being sure to distribute evenly. Top with the rest of the pasta and sauce mixture and give the pan a little shake to settle the sauce. Repeat the cheese application.
- Bake in the center of the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and the casserole is piping hot, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Top with parsley.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 627.1 calories, Carbohydrate 58.1 g, Cholesterol 71.8 mg, Fat 29.5 g, Fiber 5.3 g, Protein 30.8 g, SaturatedFat 11.9 g, Sodium 1380.1 mg, Sugar 14.4 g
BAKED FETA PASTA
An easy to make pasta with baked feta inspired by current TikTok trends.
Provided by My Hot Southern Mess
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- Combine cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, black pepper, Italian seasoning, basil, and sea salt in a 13x9-inch baking dish.
- Make room in the middle of the pan and add block of feta cheese. Flip in oil, making sure cheese remains intact and becomes well coated.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the cherry tomatoes begin to blister and split, 40 to 45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
- Remove feta-tomato mixture from the oven. Mash garlic, tomatoes, onions, and peppers with a heavy spoon and mix with the feta cheese, creating a sauce. Stir in spinach and cooked pasta. The spinach will get cooked from the heat of the pasta sauce and pasta. Add pasta water, a little at a time if needed, to reach desired consistency. Mix well and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 497.4 calories, Carbohydrate 50.7 g, Cholesterol 33.7 mg, Fat 27.8 g, Fiber 3.8 g, Protein 14.3 g, SaturatedFat 8.5 g, Sodium 513.1 mg, Sugar 4.4 g
BAKED ZITI
From Kalamazoo Michigan, Kim Neer makes this comforting Italian dish with a from-scratch spaghetti sauce, ziti pasta and a generous combination of cheeses.
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 1h20m
Yield 2 casseroles (12 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, cook beef and onions over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, tomato paste, water, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, basil and 1 teaspoon oregano. Cover and simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. , Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, egg substitute, salt and pepper., In two greased 13x9-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray, spread 1 cup of meat sauce. In each dish, layer a fourth of the pasta, 1 cup meat sauce and a fourth of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers of pasta, sauce and cheese mixture. , Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese and oregano. Cover and bake at 350° for 1 hour or until heated through.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 324 calories, Fat 11g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 38mg cholesterol, Sodium 796mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (0 sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges
Tips:
- Use a combination of cheeses for a richer flavor. Try a blend of mozzarella, Parmesan, and feta cheeses.
- Don't overcook the pasta. It should be al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
- Use a large baking dish to prevent the ziti from becoming dry.
- Cover the baking dish with foil for the first 20 minutes of baking to prevent the cheese from browning too quickly.
- Serve the ziti with a side of garlic bread or a fresh salad.
Conclusion:
Baked ziti with feta is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is also a great dish to serve at a party or potluck. With its creamy sauce, tender pasta, and flavorful cheese, baked ziti with feta is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it.
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