Description
This classic Baked Ziti is a hearty and comforting pasta dish layered with ziti noodles, creamy ricotta, savory meat sauce, and melted mozzarella. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings, it’s an easy-to-make baked pasta casserole that everyone will love.
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry ziti pasta
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti pasta until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg. Mix until smooth.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, ricotta mixture, and about 2 cups of spaghetti sauce. Mix well.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread remaining spaghetti sauce evenly over the top.
- Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage instead of ground beef for extra flavor.
- Make ahead and refrigerate up to 2 days before baking.
- Can be frozen after assembly and baked straight from the freezer.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
