Ingredients
Scale
Pasta & Sauce:
- 16 oz (450g) ziti pasta
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
🧀 Five Cheese Blend:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup Fontina cheese, shredded
- ½ cup Provolone cheese, shredded
🍞 Crispy Topping:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (for topping)
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the Pasta:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente (firm but tender).
- Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Prepare the Cheese Sauce:
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in heavy cream, allowing it to warm up for about 2 minutes.
- Add ricotta, Parmesan, Fontina, Provolone, and half of the mozzarella. Stir until smooth.
- Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3️⃣ Assemble the Dish:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta with marinara sauce and cheese sauce until evenly coated.
- Transfer to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
4️⃣ Make the Crispy Topping:
- In a bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with melted butter.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and breadcrumbs over the pasta.
5️⃣ Bake to Perfection:
- Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra creaminess, stir in an additional ¼ cup of heavy cream before baking.
- Want more flavor? Add grilled chicken or cooked Italian sausage.
- Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta & breadcrumbs.
- Add spice by mixing red pepper flakes into the cheese sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: ~650 kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg