Description

Irresistibly Cheesy Classic Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food—layers of tender pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheese baked to perfection. A crowd-pleasing pasta bake that’s perfect for dinner, leftovers, or meal prep.

Ingredients

1 lb ziti pasta
1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes or 3 cups marinara sauce
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
1 egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook ziti pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and sauté until softened.
Add ground beef or sausage, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until browned.
Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer for 10–15 minutes.
In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese with egg, 1 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Combine the cooked pasta with 2 cups of the meat sauce.
In a 9×13-inch baking dish, layer half the pasta mixture, dollops of ricotta mixture, and some meat sauce. Repeat the layers.
Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.

Notes

Use a combination of beef and sausage for extra flavor.Omit meat and add vegetables for a vegetarian version.To make ahead, assemble and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.Freezes well—assemble and freeze unbaked or freeze leftovers after baking.Use gluten-free pasta for a gluten-free version.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 520
Sugar: 7g
Sodium: 840mg
Fat: 26g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 44g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 95mg