Description
Baked ziti layers pasta, rich sauce, and gooey cheese into a comforting classic. This hearty casserole is always a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meats:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 jars (24 oz each) marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Cheese and Binding:
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Grab a large pot and generously salt your water before adding 1 pound of ziti pasta. Cook the pasta until just tender, about 8-9 minutes. Drain completely and set aside.
- Grab a large skillet and warm 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Drop in 1 small chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves. Sauté until the onion turns translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage to the skillet. Break the meat into small crumbles while cooking until no pink remains, approximately 6-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
- Pour 48 ounces of marinara sauce and 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning into the skillet. Stir and let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to blend.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together 15 ounces ricotta cheese, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper until smooth.
- Spread 1 cup of meat sauce across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer half the cooked ziti over the sauce.
- Dollop half the ricotta mixture across the ziti. Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Repeat the layers: remaining meat sauce, ziti, ricotta mixture, and top with 1 cup mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for 15 more minutes until the cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let the ziti rest for 10 minutes. Scatter fresh basil on top before serving if desired.
Notes
- Pasta texture matters most, so cook ziti just until al dente to prevent mushiness during baking.
- Drain ground meat thoroughly to avoid a watery sauce that could make your casserole soggy.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or chicken and use part-skim ricotta.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley sprinkled on top add bright flavor and make the dish look beautiful.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 570 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg