Baked ziti with cheese
Baked ziti with cheese is a hearty Italian-American pasta dish featuring tube-shaped ziti pasta tossed in a rich tomato-based meat or marinara sauce, layered with generous amounts of melted mozzarella, ricotta, and often Parmesan cheese. It's a classic comfort food staple, particularly popular in the northeastern United States, where it's a common sight at family gatherings and Italian-American restaurants.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is typically high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fats from the generous cheese content, while also providing a good amount of protein from the cheese and any added meat. A standard serving can range from 500 to 800 calories, offering key nutrients like calcium, protein, and lycopene from the tomato sauce.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 400 kcal |
| Protein | 20 g |
| Carbs | 40 g |
| Fat | 18 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 800 mg |
| Calcium | 300 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin A | 150 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 8 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.2 mcg |
| Phosphorus | 250 mg |
| Zinc | 3 mg |
Per 1 cup (240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, it's a beloved example of Italian-American cuisine, representing a hearty, baked adaptation of simpler Italian pasta dishes. Nutritionally, the combination of tomato sauce (a source of lycopene) with cheese creates a dish where the fat can aid in the absorption of certain nutrients.
