Description
This classic Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta is a comforting Italian-American pasta casserole featuring tender ziti pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheeses, baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound ziti pasta
Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to get it ready for baking the casserole.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted boiling water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and finely chopped onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and the onion is tender, about 6–8 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- Add Flavor: Stir in the minced garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Mix Ricotta: In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese and the egg, mixing thoroughly until smooth and creamy.
- Layer the Casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti evenly in the bottom. Spoon half of the meat sauce over the pasta. Dot with half of the ricotta mixture in small dollops. Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat the layering process with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese. Finally, sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes to heat through and meld flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10–15 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley for a fresh finish.
Notes
- You can prepare the casserole in advance and refrigerate it before baking, making it a convenient meal prep option.
- For variety, substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the ground beef.
