Description
Comforting Cheesy Baked Ziti brings Italian-American magic to dinner tables with layers of pasta, rich marinara, and melted cheese. Hearty and irresistible, this crowd-pleasing dish welcomes you to savor each satisfying bite of pure culinary bliss.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta (or penne)
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage (or a mix of both)
- 24 oz marinara sauce (or homemade)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup sour cream (for extra creaminess)
- 1 large egg
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp salt (for boiling water)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 2 tbsps fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted water pot to a rolling boil and cook ziti until perfectly tender. Drain and reserve.
- Flavor Foundation: In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil and sauté diced onions until translucent. Introduce minced garlic, stirring briefly to release aromatic essence.
- Meat Development: Incorporate ground beef or sausage, browning thoroughly while fragmenting into delicate crumbles. Eliminate excess rendering if necessary.
- Sauce Infusion: Fold marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes into meat mixture. Allow flavors to meld during a gentle 5-minute simmer.
- Creamy Ricotta Blend: Whisk ricotta, sour cream, egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan into a harmonious, silky mixture.
- Architectural Assembly: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with sauce. Construct alternating strata of pasta, ricotta blend, and meat sauce, concluding with a lavish cheese blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Culinary Transformation: Shield with foil, bake 20 minutes. Unveil and continue cooking 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and sauce bubbles enthusiastically.
- Serving Finale: Rest briefly, garnish with fresh herbaceous notes of basil or parsley, then serve this comforting masterpiece.
Notes
- Aim for al dente texture by testing pasta 1-2 minutes before package instructions suggest. Drain immediately and avoid overcooking to prevent mushy consistency.
- Always drain ground meat thoroughly to prevent oily, heavy sauce. Use a paper towel-lined colander for best fat removal without losing flavor.
- Ensure ricotta mixture is well-blended and seasoned evenly. Room temperature ingredients help create smoother, more consistent texture for better integration.
- Layer cheese strategically to achieve golden, bubbling top without burning. Monitor last 10-15 minutes of baking closely, rotating dish if needed for even browning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg