Description
A comforting and hearty Italian-American baked ziti featuring tender pasta layered with a savory ground beef and marinara sauce, creamy ricotta mixed with egg, and topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a family dinner or meal prep, this cheesy pasta bake combines classic flavors baked to bubbly perfection.
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 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) so it is ready for baking the ziti later.
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare meat sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add ground beef and diced onion, cooking until beef is browned and onion is soft, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning; cook for another minute. Pour in marinara sauce and let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to meld flavors.
- Mix ricotta and egg: In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg, mixing until smooth. This will add creaminess and bind the cheese layer.
- Combine pasta and sauce: In a large mixing bowl, toss half of the cooked pasta with half of the meat sauce until evenly coated.
- Assemble the casserole: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture on the bottom. Dollop and spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer, then sprinkle with ¾ cup of mozzarella cheese.
- Add remaining layers: Spread the rest of the pasta mixed with the remaining meat sauce over the ricotta layer. Top with remaining ¾ cup mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
- Rest and garnish: Let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired to add a bright, fresh note.
Notes
- You can prepare the dish ahead of time and refrigerate before baking, making meal prep easy.
- For extra flavor and variety, substitute or combine the ground beef with Italian sausage.
