Zucchini Baked Ziti Recipe

With our kids being out of school and constantly eating, we need new meal ideas and I have a great one to share! It’s mouthwatering and pairs perfectly with a green salad or as an appetizer to make for all your summer parties. This Zucchini Baked Ziti recipe my favorite way to cook zucchini. It becomes a “near-sauce” as it melts. It melts into soft, flavorful, and somewhat caramelized zucchini strands when you sauté it with some olive oil, salt, and garlic! Trust me, this recipe will be on repeat this summer.

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound ziti pasta
½ cup reserved pasta water
⅓ cup olive oil
4 medium zucchini squash (chopped)
4 garlic cloves minced
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons pesto
1 cup packed fresh basil, plus extra for topping
12 ounces ricotta cheese
12 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Be sure to reserve ½ cup of the pasta water after cooking. (You will be using it)
Add the olive oil to a large skillet that has been heated over medium-low heat. Add the garlic, salt, pepper, and zucchini. Mix everything together. Cook the zucchini until it softens and almost melts into the pan, turning often. Add the red pepper flakes and stir.

Add the pesto and the pasta water that was set aside. Add the fresh basil and stir. If the skillet is big enough, you can either pour everything into it or transfer it all onto a baking dish. Whether the pasta is in the skillet or the dish, toss it with the zucchini pesto mixture.
Spoon the ricotta cheese evenly over the noodles. Mix everything until the pasta is mostly covered with ricotta. Add a couple slices of fresh mozzarella both within the noodles and on top.

Bake the zucchini Baked Ziti for twenty to twenty-five minutes, or until the cheese melts and everything combines. Take out and serve right away, top it with a little fresh basil and parmesan cheese.