Description
This classic Baked Ziti recipe from Southern Italy combines hearty pasta, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheeses for a comforting meal. Cheese lovers will savor each creamy, savory bite that brings family and friends together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 jar (24 oz / 680 g) marinara sauce
- 2 cups (226 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (250 g) ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a spacious baking dish for assembly.
- Boil ziti pasta in salted water until perfectly tender, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Brown ground meat in a large skillet, breaking it into small crumbles over medium-high heat until no pink remains.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with browned meat, reduce heat, and let simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
- Whisk ricotta cheese with egg, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a separate mixing bowl until smooth and well-combined.
- Create the first layer in the baking dish by spreading half the cooked ziti pasta across the bottom.
- Spoon half the meat sauce evenly over the pasta layer, ensuring consistent coverage.
- Dollop and spread half the ricotta mixture across the meat sauce layer.
- Sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer.
- Repeat the layering process with remaining pasta, meat sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until cheese becomes golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or lentils for a vegetarian version that maintains rich protein content.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish celiac-friendly without compromising texture or taste.
- Enhance flavor by adding fresh basil or roasted garlic to the ricotta mixture for deeper, more complex taste profiles.
- Prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, allowing flavors to meld and making weeknight dinners super convenient.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg