Description
Indulge in a comforting and cheesy dish with this Baked Ziti recipe featuring savory ground beef, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or potluck gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
Ricotta Mixture:
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the meat sauce: In a skillet, cook the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Add marinara sauce and simmer.
- Mix the ricotta: Combine ricotta, egg, seasonings, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan.
- Layer the dish: In a baking dish, layer pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta mixture. Repeat and top with remaining cheese.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 10–15 minutes until golden.
- Serve: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for the beef.
- For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes or a splash of red wine to the sauce.
- This dish freezes well before or after baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
