Description
Hearty Baked Ziti brings comfort and flavor from Italian kitchens straight to your dinner table. Cheesy pasta layers blend perfectly with savory marinara and rich ground beef, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ziti pasta
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 2 cups (480 ml) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 (15 oz/425 g) container ricotta cheese
- 1 (28 oz/794 g) jar marinara or pasta sauce
- ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley or basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Preparation: Warm the oven to 350F (175C) and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray.
- Pasta Preparation: Boil ziti until perfectly tender, drain, and set to the side.
- Meat Foundation: In a large skillet, brown ground beef with diced onions, eliminating excess grease. Quickly incorporate minced garlic and sauté briefly.
- Sauce Creation: Blend marinara, Italian herbs, seasoning, and ground meat mixture. Allow flavors to meld and simmer until richly developed.
- Cheese Fusion: Combine ricotta, beaten egg, grated Parmesan, and half the mozzarella in a separate mixing bowl.
- Layering Technique: Construct casserole by alternating pasta, meat sauce, and cheese mixture in the prepared baking dish. Ensure even distribution across layers.
- Cheese Topping: Sprinkle remaining mozzarella across the surface for a golden, melted finish.
- Baking Process: Shield with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until cheese transforms into a bubbling, golden crust.
- Serving: Allow the ziti to rest momentarily, permitting flavors to settle. Optional garnish with fresh herbs for aromatic enhancement.
Notes
- Opt for ground beef with lower fat content (90/10 or 93/7) to reduce excess grease and create a healthier dish without compromising flavor.
- Cook ziti precisely al dente, as it will continue cooking in the oven, ensuring a perfect texture that’s not mushy or too firm.
- Gently mix ricotta cheese ingredients to maintain a smooth, creamy texture without overmixing, which can make the mixture dense and tough.
- Easily adapt the recipe by substituting ground beef with ground turkey, using gluten-free pasta, or creating a vegetarian version with plant-based meat alternatives or additional roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg