Description
This Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is the ultimate comforting dish, combining rich marinara sauce with lean ground beef, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella cheese. Baked to perfection, this hearty pasta dish is ideal for a family dinner, offering the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and cheesy goodness. A classic Italian-American favorite everyone will love!
Ingredients
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups prepared marinara sauce
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
-
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and set aside. -
Cook the Ziti:
Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside. -
Cook the Ground Beef:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat. -
Prepare the Meat Sauce:
Add the marinara sauce to the cooked ground beef and stir to combine. Let it simmer for 5-7 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary. -
Prepare the Ricotta Mixture:
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix well until smooth. -
Assemble the Ziti:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta with the meat sauce, stirring to coat the pasta evenly.
Transfer half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread half of the ricotta mixture on top of the pasta. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. -
Layer and Bake:
Add the remaining pasta mixture to the dish and top with the remaining ricotta mixture. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
-
Bake the Ziti:
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- If you want to make this dish ahead of time, you can assemble the ziti, cover it, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the beef for a lighter version.
- Add sautéed vegetables (like onions, mushrooms, or spinach) to the meat sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Pasta, Italian, Comfort Food
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Meat Sauce, Pasta Casserole, Italian-American, Comfort Food, Cheesy Ziti