Description
Indulge in a comforting and satisfying meal with this delicious Baked Ziti recipe featuring savory ground beef, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey mozzarella. Perfect for a family dinner or gathering, this hearty dish is sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Ziti Pasta:
1 pound ziti pasta
Ground Beef Mixture:
1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound ground beef, 1 small onion (diced), 3 cloves garlic (minced), 1 jar (24 oz) marinara or pasta sauce, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Layers:
1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 large egg, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
chopped parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook Ziti: Cook ziti until al dente, then drain.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Brown ground beef and onion, add garlic, then mix in marinara sauce and seasonings.
- Prepare Ricotta Mixture: Mix ricotta cheese with egg in a small bowl.
- Assemble: Toss cooked ziti with meat sauce and mozzarella. Layer pasta, ricotta mixture, remaining pasta, meat sauce, and cheeses.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then bake uncovered until golden.
- Rest and Garnish: Let the ziti rest, then garnish with parsley or basil.
Notes
- Substitute Italian sausage for a richer flavor.
- Dish can be prepared in advance and refrigerated before baking, adding extra baking time if chilled.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
