Recipes Ingredients Pasta and Grains Baked Pasta Recipes Creamy Baked Ziti 5.0 (2) 2 Reviews By Martha Stewart Martha Stewart Martha Stewart is a bestselling author, entrepreneur, and lifestyle expert who has taught millions of people through generations the joy of entertaining, cooking, gardening, collecting, crafting, and home renovating via her eponymous magazine, Martha Stewart Living, Emmy-winning television shows, and 99 books (and counting). Based in Katonah, N.Y., where she helms her 156-acre Bedford Farm, Martha is America's first self-made female billionaire. Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 15, 2019 Rate PRINT Share Prep Time: 30 mins Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Servings: 8 Cream cheese is the secret to the silky sauce in this vegetarian baked pasta dish, while mozzarella and Parmesan create a golden bubbling crust on top. Ingredients 2 cans (28 ounces each) whole peeled tomatoes ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from 2 to 3 cloves) 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes 1 pound ziti Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper 4 ounces cream cheese, cut into small pieces 8 ounces low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (about 2 cups) 1 cup grated Parmesan, divided Directions Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place tomatoes in a food processor and puree until smooth. In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium-high. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes, and cook until golden and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pureed tomatoes. Bring to a boil over high, then reduce heat to medium and cook at a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a pot of generously salted boiling water, cook pasta 4 minutes less than according to package instructions (about 6 minutes total). Drain into a colander and rinse under cold water until cool, then drain again. Transfer to a large bowl. Stir cream cheese into sauce until melted, then remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 1 cup sauce into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; spread into an even layer. Scatter half of mozzarella over sauce. Add 3 cups sauce and 1/2 cup Parmesan to bowl of pasta; toss to coat. Add pasta mixture to the baking dish in an even layer. Top with remaining sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake on a rack in the top third position until cheese is melted, 10 minutes. Switch oven to broiler setting; broil until cheese is bubbly and browned in places, about 3 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes; serve. Bryan Gardner Rate It PRINT