Baked Pasta With Ricotta Cheese Recipes

CHEESY BAKED PASTA WITH SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet over medium-high. Crumble sausage into skillet, using a spoon to break it into small pieces. Cook until starting to brown, stirring occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds and red-pepper flakes (if using), and cook another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir in whole tomatoes and their juice, using a spoon to break them up. Add crushed tomatoes, bay leaves and 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to thicken slightly.
• Stir in pasta and 1 cup water and return to a simmer. Continue to simmer for 2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Remove from heat, pluck out the bay leaves, and fold in about a third of the mozzarella.
• Top pasta with remaining mozzarella and dollops of ricotta. Sprinkle with Parmesan, then transfer to oven. Bake until pasta is tender when poked with a fork, and cheese is bubbly and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes. (If you'd like a more deeply browned topping, run the pan under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving. Top with basil, plenty of black pepper, and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

THREE CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, cook ground meat and onion in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until meat is browned. Stir in pasta sauce, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer the ingredients in the prepared baking dish as follows: half of the cooked pasta, all the provolone cheese, all the sour cream, half of the sauce mixture, remaining pasta, mozzarella cheese, and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

RIGATONI WITH RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Spray a 9x13-inch pan with Pam.
• Cook rigatoni as per directions on package; drain.
• Beat eggs in a small bowl.
• Stir in ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese and parsley.
• To assemble casserole:.
• Spread 2 cups pasta sauce to cover bottom of pan.
• Place 1/2 of the cooked rigatoni over sauce; top with 1/2 the ricotta mixture dropped by spoonfuls.
• Layer 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 2 cups pasta sauce, remaining rigatoni, and remaining ricotta mixture.
• Top with 1 cup mozzarella, remaining pasta sauce then the last 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake 60-70 minutes until bubbly.
• Uncover and continue cooking for another 5 minutes until cheese melts.
• Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

BAKED PASTA SHELLS WITH RICOTTA-REAL SIMPLE

Steps:

• Cook shells 7-8 minutes until almost al dente. Drain and return to the pot. Drizzle with oil and toss.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Meanwhile, combine ricotta, salt, 1/8 tsp of pepper, egg yolks, and 1/8 cup parmesan.
• Melt the butter in skillet over medium heat. Add the herb of choice and cook until butter is brown.
• Spread 1/4 cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of a baking dish or casserole.
• Carefully spoon about 1 1/2 tbsp of the ricotta filling into each shell and place into the casserole dish.
• Pour the rest of the sauce over the shells.
• Combine the Parmesan cheese with 1/4 tsp pepper and sprinkle over the shells.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes--sauce should be bubbly. Remove foil and bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden brown.
• Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

BAKED PASTA WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES AND RICOTTA CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large skillet heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until starting to brown.
• Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes; sauté 3 more minutes.
• Add tomatoes, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Stir well, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook pasta for 7 minutes or until tender and still a bit firm.
• Drain and toss with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large bowl combine ricotta, pasta and sauce; mix gently to combine.
• Pour into a medium-sized baking dish and top with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.
• Serve garnished with chopped parsley and additional Parmesan cheese.

BAKED ZITI II

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse.
• In a medium bowl, mix ziti, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, egg and 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish and spoon in ziti mixture. Top with remaining spaghetti sauce, followed by Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes; let stand for 15 minutes before serving.