Description
Baked ziti becomes a crowd-pleasing pasta dish packed with cheesy goodness that comes together faster than your favorite weeknight dinner. Melted mozzarella, hearty tomato sauce, and tender pasta create a comforting meal your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound dry ziti pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 26 ounce jars spaghetti sauce
Cheese and Dairy:
- 6 ounces provolone cheese (sliced)
- 6 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 onion (chopped)
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 350°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter to prevent sticking.
- Boil a large pot of lightly salted water and cook 1 pound of ziti pasta until tender, approximately 8 minutes. Drain completely.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown 1 pound of ground beef with 1 chopped onion until meat is no longer pink.
- Pour 2 jars of spaghetti sauce into the skillet and let the mixture simmer for 15 minutes, allowing flavors to blend.
- Create the first layer in your buttered dish by spreading half the cooked ziti across the bottom.
- Arrange 6 ounces of provolone cheese slices over the ziti, then spread 1 ½ cups of sour cream evenly.
- Ladle half the meat sauce over the sour cream layer, ensuring consistent coverage.
- Add the remaining ziti on top of the meat sauce, then sprinkle 6 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Pour the remaining meat sauce over the mozzarella to create a complete layer.
- Dust the top with 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
- Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through completely.
Notes
- Always use freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor and melting quality.
- Let the ziti rest for 10 minutes after baking to help the layers set and make cutting easier.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for beef and use reduced-fat cheeses.
- If preparing ahead, assemble the dish and refrigerate, then add 10-15 minutes to baking time when ready to cook.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 53 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 to 8
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg