Description
Indulgent five cheese ziti al forno brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen, blending rich cheeses and hearty pasta. Creamy layers meld together, promising a delightful dining experience you’ll savor with each comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 15 ounces (425 grams) diced tomatoes (drained or 2 fresh diced tomatoes)
Cheese Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese blend (Parmesan, Romano, Asiago)
- 1/2 cup fontina cheese (or grated Monterey Jack)
- 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for coating pasta)
Instructions
- Boil a large pot of water and cook ziti until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Toss pasta with olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine marinara sauce, heavy cream, diced tomatoes, and sugar. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally. Add Parmesan, fontina, and mozzarella cheeses, stirring until fully melted into a smooth sauce. Remove from heat.
- Activate broiler to high heat. Select an oven-safe dish and distribute ziti evenly across the bottom. Pour cheese sauce over pasta, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Distribute mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses across the top of the ziti. Evenly scatter breadcrumbs over the cheese layer to create a crispy texture.
- Position dish under broiler. Monitor closely for 2-4 minutes until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden-brown surface. Broiler temperatures can fluctuate rapidly, so maintain constant vigilance.
- Extract dish carefully from broiler. Optional: Garnish with additional freshly grated Parmesan. Serve immediately while cheese remains molten and appetizing.
Notes
- Choose short, sturdy pasta shapes like rigatoni if ziti is unavailable, as they hold sauce equally well.
- Ensure pasta is slightly undercooked before baking, as it continues cooking in the rich cheese sauce.
- Replace heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version without compromising creamy texture.
- Toast breadcrumbs separately with olive oil and herbs before sprinkling for extra crunch and flavor depth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg