Olive Garden-Style Five Cheese Ziti Bake

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (about 1 minute less than specified). Drain well, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.

3. 3

   While the pasta cooks, prepare the ricotta mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and black pepper. Mix until well combined and set aside.

4. 4

   In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. Pour in the marinara sauce, add dried oregano and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water.

5. 5

   Add the drained ziti pasta to the marinara sauce in the saucepan and toss gently to coat completely.

6. 6

   To assemble: Spread about 1 cup of the sauced ziti mixture on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Drop spoonfuls of half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano, and all of the provolone cheese.

7. 7

   Top with the remaining sauced ziti. Drop spoonfuls of the remaining ricotta mixture over the ziti. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, the remaining 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, and the 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese for topping.

8. 8

   Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and heated through. For a golden brown top, you can broil for the last 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.

9. 9

   Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.