Baked Ziti
This cozy baked ziti recipe is layered with pasta, tomato sauce, and gooey cheese for the ultimate comfort meal. Easy, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for make-ahead dinners!
Equipment
- Large pot
- large skillet
- Mixing bowls
- Casserole dish (9x13 inches)
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Colander
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Aluminum foil
- Oven mitts
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage or half of each
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce 1 jar
- 1 cup ricotta cheese whole-milk preferred
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp basil
- 0.5 tsp oregano
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Boil ziti in salted water until barely firm, then drain.
- Brown ground beef or sausage with onion in skillet; drain excess fat.
- Add garlic, sauce, and seasonings. Simmer 5–10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta, half the mozzarella, parmesan, and parsley.
- Toss cooked pasta with half the meat sauce.
- Layer half the pasta in casserole dish, spread cheese mixture, and top with remaining sauce. Add rest of pasta, more sauce, and remaining mozzarella.
- Cover with foil; bake 25 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Notes
Let ziti sit 10 minutes before serving for best layers. Swap in ground turkey or add veggies for variation. Freezes well. Leftovers taste better the next day!
Nutrition
Calories: 470kcal | Protein: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 900mg