Description
Baked ziti becomes your ultimate comfort dish that brings pure pasta joy straight from the oven. Cheesy, hearty layers of noodles and rich sauce guarantee a satisfying meal your family will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Pasta and Base:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 4 cups marinara sauce
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to a precise 375F (190C). Pour 4 cups water into a large pot, salt generously, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook 1 pound ziti pasta for 8 minutes, creating a slightly firmer texture than fully cooked.
- Drain pasta in a colander and set aside. In a 12-inch skillet, warm 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and sauté for exactly 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the skillet. Break meat into small crumbles and cook for 7-9 minutes until no pink remains. Carefully drain excess fat using a slotted spoon.
- Pour 4 cups marinara sauce into the skillet with browned meat. Stir thoroughly and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.
- Whisk 1 large egg in a separate mixing bowl. Add 1 cup ricotta cheese, 12 cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and 12 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until completely smooth.
- Spread 1 cup meat sauce across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Layer half the cooked ziti pasta directly on the sauce.
- Dollop half the ricotta mixture over the pasta. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese evenly across the layer. Repeat pasta, ricotta, and cheese layers.
- Top the final layer with remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered at 375F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and edges bubble.
- Remove from oven and rest for exactly 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil if desired before serving hot.
Notes
- Don’t overcook pasta, as it continues cooking in the sauce and baking process, which helps maintain the perfect texture.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey or chicken instead of beef, and use part-skim ricotta cheese.
- Make sure to drain excess fat from meat to prevent a greasy casserole and keep the dish clean-tasting.
- Fresh herbs like basil or parsley added just before serving brighten the entire dish and provide a fresh flavor contrast to the rich, cheesy pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 740 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg