Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is a pasta bake recipe that’s sure to be a hit with the whole family! It’s packed with pasta, cheese, and a meaty marinara sauce, and it’s perfect for assembling in advance for an easy weeknight dinner.
Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 5 cups marinara sauce
- 15 oz fresh ricotta
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water until just al dente - drain.
- In a deep pan or dutch oven, over medium-high heat, add olive oil and onion and cook until softenened.
- Add ground beef to pan and cook with onions - breaking up the beef with a spatula, until beef is fully cooked through and onions are softened (5-7 minutes).
- Add minced garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and saute another minute.
- Add marinara sauce and bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Spread a ladle of meat sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.
- Add ricotta cheese into the sauce and meat mixture just until combined.
- Add cooked pasta and stir just until noodles are coated.
- Transfer half of the pasta to the casserole dish. Top with 1/2 of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 grated parmesan. Add remaining pasta and top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan.
- Bake at 350˚F for 25 minutes. Broil 1-2 minutes to brown the cheese.
- Let cool 5 minutes then garnish with basil if desired and serve with a side of garlic bread and salad for a full meal.