Description
This classic Baked Ziti recipe combines tender pasta with a savory meat and tomato sauce, layered with creamy ricotta, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheese. Baked to perfection with a golden cheesy crust, it’s a comforting Italian-American casserole perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 16 ounces ziti
Meat Sauce
- ½ pound ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 24 ounces spaghetti sauce
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon oregano
Cheeses
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, divided (1 cup + ½ cup)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) to prepare for baking the ziti.
- Cook pasta: Boil the ziti according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with chopped onion and minced garlic until the beef is browned and onions are soft. Drain any excess fat.
- Add sauces and seasoning: Stir in the spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, and oregano to the beef mixture. Heat until the sauce begins to boil, then remove from heat.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Mix 1 cup of the beef and sauce mixture with the cooked ziti thoroughly.
- Layer first half: Spoon half of the ziti mixture into a large baking dish. Spread ricotta cheese evenly on top, then sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1 cup of the remaining sauce.
- Layer second half: Add the remaining half of the ziti mixture on top, followed by the rest of the sauce.
- Bake covered: Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. This helps the dish stay moist and creamy.
- Add final cheese topping: Remove the foil and sprinkle parmesan cheese and the remaining ½ cup of mozzarella over the top.
- Bake uncovered: Return the dish to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 10 minutes to brown the cheese topping.
Notes
- Adding a pinch of salt while cooking pasta enhances its flavor.
- Covering with foil during the first 20 minutes traps moisture for creaminess and makes cleanup easier.
- Removing the foil for the last 10 minutes allows the cheese to brown slightly; for a crustier top, skip the foil entirely.
- To achieve a golden, bubbly cheese crust, you can broil the dish for the last minute but watch closely to avoid burning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 560mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
