Easy Eggplant Parmesan + Pasta

Make this Easy Eggplant Parmesan with Ragu Pasta Sauce and your family will think you spent all day crafting dinner for them!

Today’s post is sponsored by Ragu Pasta Sauce, by my family’s love for their pasta sauce is all my our own! Visit the campaign landing page to discover the Ragu heritage story. #simmeredintradition #ragu#ad

I can remember my grandmother canning tomato sauce when I was a young girl. She spent hours processing tomatoes in the hot kitchen in August so that her tomato sauce could be enjoyed all year long.

Did you know that Ragu began in a home kitchen, too? This is the ultimate home-cook success story.  Aussanta Cantisano immigrated from Naples, Italy to Rochester, NY and brought with her the traditions from the old country.  She planted a garden in her backyard, and began making sauce and sharing it with friends and neighbors.  During the Great Depression, she helped her family overcome difficult times by selling her homemade tomato sauce.

That determination reminds me of my own grandmother, who overcame many obstacles in life to be a highly regarded member of her community. She never wavered in her principles.

These days, my husband often makes small-batch tomato sauce, having the kids climb onto a kitchen table to help stir the pot. His family also came from Naples, Italy several generations ago. But me? I’d rather open a jar of quality tomato sauce and spend the time on something else. That’s why I like to keep a few jars of Ragu Pasta Sauce in my pantry.  It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner like this Easy Eggplant Parmesan and Pasta Bake.

Week night dinners don’t have to be boring or mundane. Start by planning out your meals using my Menu Planner and Grocery List Printable Set. It will help save you time and money!

This Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious combination of flavors. Since eggplant often absorbs the flavors of what it is served with, it’s a great way to sneak some veggies into your meal. Using Ragu means I have more time to spend enjoying the meal with my family, instead of standing over the stove forever.

Easy Eggplant Parmesan Shopping List

• ziti
• sweet onion
• fresh garlic
• eggplant
• ricotta cheese
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• fresh basil
• pasta sauce
• butter
• panko bread crumbs
• fresh Parmesan cheese

from the pantry: olive oil, salt and pepper

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• baking dish
• skillet
• cutting board and good knife

For a list of some of my favorite items to use when cooking, and why I chose them, please visit my Kitchen Resource page.

Easy Eggplant Parmesan and Baked Pasta

Eggplant Parmigiana Pasta Bake with Ragu Pasta Sauce

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Cook Time: 20 minutes

Author: Ang Paris - Juggling Act Mama

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ziti pasta
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion minced
• 2 large cloves of garlic minced
• 1 small eggplant peeled and cubed
• 1 cup Ricotta cheese
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
• 3 basil leaves chopped fine
• 1 jar Ragu Pasta Sauce I used Cheese Creations Parmesan and Romano
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• ½ c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Cook pasta according to directions on the box.
• In a large skillet, cook the onion in 3 tablespoons olive oil until translucent. Add the garlic and eggplant. Sautee until the eggplant is tender.
• In a bowl, combine the ricotta, basil and mozzarella cheese. Mix well.
• Combine the pasta and eggplant and toss to coat in the Ragu Pasta Sauce.
• In a large casserole dish, spread some of the Ragu pasta sauce on the bottom to keep the pasta from sticking or burning. Add 1/2 of the ricotta mixture, top with pasta and repeat once more, ending with pasta.
• In a small skillet, melt the butter and heat the olive oil. Add the panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese and toast until golden brown, stirring often. Spread the mixture over the top of the casserole.
• Bake at 350-degrees until for 15-20 minutes.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

Please Note: I am not a registered dietician. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

What are some of your favorite traditions, and how have they evolved?

More Italian Favorites:

• Tomato Sauce from Scratch
• Homemade Italian Meatballs
• Basil Tomato Sauce and Mini Meatballs
• Quick Lasagna Soup