Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti is a comforting Italian-American pasta casserole combining ziti pasta with a rich tomato meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente; drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add ground beef or sausage, season with salt, pepper, dried basil, and oregano. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix well.
- Transfer half of the pasta mixture into a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella and half the Parmesan cheese.
- Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh parsley if desired, and serve warm.
Notes
For extra flavor, add red pepper flakes to the sauce or incorporate sautéed mushrooms and spinach into the pasta mixture before baking.