Tis the season for food, friends and family dinners. At our home, cooking together is often a family affair and a fun way to connect with each other. When we are planning cozy, family dinners, everyone always votes for some sort of pasta meal. Because really is there anything better than pasta oozing with melted cheese and a fabulous marinara sauce? Exactly! That’s why I am sharing my Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant recipe with you today. Thanks to Barilla and Galbani for sponsoring this post. All opinions, recipes and love of pasta are my own.
Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant
Of course every great pasta dish starts with an al dente cooked pasta. Barilla has been my choice of pasta forever and offers numerous shapes and styles to fit any recipe or hungry family. Pair that with one of their delicious Red Sauces (Marinara or Traditional) and of course some Galbani cheese and you are on your way to a crowd pleasing meal.
Galbani Ricotta cheese is smooth and creamy and melts right into this Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant. But I did not stop there oh no, I have also added some Galbani Mozzarella because you just can’t have enough cheese. I found all the ingredients I needed for this meal at my local Walmart. Feel free to take advantage of this rebate offer as well.
Not only is this Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant going to make your family and friends very happy and full, it is also very easy to prepare. With only 5 major ingredients (Barilla Pasta, Barilla Marinara, Eggplant, Galbani Ricotta cheese and Mozzarella), it’s a breeze to get on the table during the busy holiday season.
Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant -Holiday Meal Inspiration
Ingredients
- 1 box Barilla wavy cut Ziti
- 1 jar of Barilla Marinara (or Traditional)
- 2 large eggplants
- 8 oz Galbani Mozzarella cheese (shredded or cubed)
- 1 C Galbani Part skim Ricotta Cheese
- salt, pepper, garlic powder, red pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375
- Prepare Barilla Ziti according to package (al dente) and drain
- Meanwhile slice eggplant lengthwise, scoop out eggplant from center set aside
- Place eggplant boats on a baking sheet (lined w foil) w a little olive oil
- Sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder and bake 20 min
- While eggplant boats are baking, heat a skillet to med high w olive oil
- Saute eggplant pieces for 10 min transfer to large mixing bowl
- Add cooked ziti, Marinara sauce, ricotta and Mozzarella into bowl w eggplant
- sprinkle on salt, pepper, garlic and red pepper to taste
- Scoop mixture into each eggplant boat and bake 20 min
- Brown top under broiler and serve
Whether you’re bringing a dish to holiday party or simply gathering with friends and family this Holiday Season, treat them to a Pasta meal that will fill their bellies with love. The love of Pasta and Cheese. This Cheesy Baked Ziti Stuffed Eggplant does not disappoint. Happy Holiday cooking and eating friends!
This looks delicious. I keep wondering if I should include some sort of pasta on the Thanksgiving table. Let it be know the Caveman is no fan of turkey.
I was thinking I might as well as a vegetarian main dish option. I think I am the only veggie this year though
You had me a cheesy baked pasta….
Does it to me every time! 🙂
Such a great idea to stuff eggplant with pasta and who doesn’t love cheese!
Agreed cheese makes everything better!
Oh, love this idea! Still trying to get motivated for Thanksgiving without my kids ….
Yes that’s gotta be tough for you! Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving 🙂 perhaps we can meet up next weekend for cycle or yoga
This looks delicious. I love Barilla pasta. I’ll have to try those sauces.
Yes Barilla is a staple at our house-consistently good
Whoa! Stop right there…you totally had me at “Cheesy!” This looks SO delish…I might swing by the store and grab a couple of eggplants on the way home later (and, I have never eaten or cooked/baked eggplant before LOL).
Cheesy makes everything better! Take the leap I have faith in your cooking abilities 🙂
Holy yum! I would love this right now! Love the addition of eggplant!
Thanks I thought it was a nice change of pace
Oh my goodness! What a fun idea!!! I need to try this STAT.
I think you would really enjoy it
Stuffed eggplant? This sounds amazing!
Thanks I will be making it again for sure
Pasta is a great meal to make because most people like it AND it’s a cheap meal, for the most part! Thanks for sharing!
Yes I agree it’s usually a crowd pleaser!
This looks super good! <3! I need to go get some eggplant!
It is a very easy recipe too hope you give it a try
Yum! That sounds really good. To think that I just had pasta last night and still wants more it today after reading this post! LOL
Have a good weekend!
The Fitness Bro
Ha that’s what I like to hear!
These look heavenly and so comforting!
Thanks great winter time meal for sure
These look so decadent for winter comfort food – love it!
Thanks so much!
Mouth watering recipe! I’m going to have to make this!
Thanks so much I hope you and your family enjoy
This looks so good! Plus, I love Ibotta. 🙂
Thanks and yes love the rebates!
Such a fun idea for taking a classic pasta dish to the next level! I love when there’s pasta at the Thanksgiving table!
Thanks and I love it when there is pasta at any meal 🙂
I wish I could make eggplant dishes. Maybe I could make this in a squash? How do you think the flavors would mesh if I did that?
I think that would work really well also
I don’t even normally do eggplant, but this looks so yummy that I want to!
Great hope you try it out
Holy moly, that looks amazing. Almost like a combo of eggplant parm and baked ziti in one dish. YUM.
Yes! That’s exactly what I was going for
This looks absolutely delicious. I just love anything with eggplant!
Me too!
Wow! That looks good! I’ve done similar things with zucchini but never would have thought about eggplant. I’ll have to give it a try.
Thanks hope you enjoy it!
This looks like a delicious, very do-able recipe! And I’ll be it smells yummy while it’s baking. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks and yes it sure does
What a great dinner idea! This would be a big hit around here!
Oh good! Hope your family likes it
Oh my … all my favorite ingredients in one meal. This looks really so delicious. Barilla pasta is really the best. I use it a lot.
Thanks so much and I agree-consistently good
Definitely trying this recipe with the family in town. Love eggplant and this looks super easy to make for a lot of people!
Fabulous hope your family enjoys it as well
That looks absolutely delicious!
Thank you so much!
I’m all about a hearty Italian dinner when its cold outside. It just has this way of warming me up inside. 🙂
Indeed it does!
Mmm, it really looks extremely delicious. Thanks a lot for sharing it with us – I promise to make a good use of this recipe!
Hope you do thanks