Baked Ziti

In this tutorial you will learn how to make baked ziti! Baked ziti is one of the easiest yet delicious pasta recipe. Although there are lots of different ways to make it, I'll be showing you the most fool proof way to impress with this dish!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1/2 cup warmed whole milk
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 3 cups dry pasta
• 2 cups water
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups spinach
• 1/2 cup broccoli
• 1/2 tomato
• 2/3 cup pasta sauce
• 1/4 cup shredded mozarella
• 4-5 butter crackers

Recipe Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree
2. Make a Bechamel: Melt butter in saucepan. When butter begins to bubble add flour. Continually whisk until slightly bubbly but not brown. Gradually add milk while continually whisking until flour and butter paste becomes fully incorporated into milk and sauce thickens slightly. Bring sauce to boil and whisk in cayenne pepper. Let sauce simmer while continously stirring for 1-2 min. Remove sauce from heat. Stir in grated parmesan; set sauce aside.
3. Heat olive oil in pan over medium-high heat. Add red peppers and sautee for 2-3 min. Add broccoli and sautee for another 2 min. Add spinach and cook until wilted, 2 min. Season with salt and pepper. Add pasta sauce and cook until bubbly. Season with salt, dried basil, and oregano.
4. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until just cooked. (Be careful not to overcook as pasta will continue to cook in the oven); Drain.
5. Transfer drained pasta to cooled bechamel and stir until pasta is fully coated in sauce. Add pasta sauce with sauteed veggies and stir until just combined.
6. Transfer pasta and sauce mixture to baking dish. Transfer butter cracker to ziploc bag and crush using rolling pin. Top pasta with mozarella and crushed crackers.
7. Bake pasta for 15-20 min at 350 degrees. Broil pasta for 3-5 min until crackers and cheese turn golden brown. Let pasta cool for few minutes before serving
8. Enjoy!