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Baked Ziti Recipe

Baked Ziti Recipe


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4.8 from 8 reviews

  • Author: Emma
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Non-Vegetarian

Description

This delicious Baked Ziti recipe is a comforting and satisfying dish that’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings. Layers of ziti pasta, flavorful meat sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey melted mozzarella come together to create a hearty and cheesy casserole that everyone will love.


Ingredients

Scale

Ziti Pasta:

  • 1 pound ziti pasta

Meat Sauce:

  • 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Cheese Mixture:

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Garnish:

  • Chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  3. Prepare the meat sauce: Brown the Italian sausage or ground beef with onion and garlic. Add marinara sauce, tomato sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer.
  4. Make the cheese mixture: Combine ricotta cheese and egg.
  5. Assemble the dish: Toss cooked ziti with meat sauce. Layer pasta, ricotta mixture, and cheese in a baking dish.
  6. Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake until cheese is bubbly.
  7. Serve: Garnish with parsley and serve warm.

Notes

  • You can prepare this dish up to a day in advance and refrigerate it before baking.
  • Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a little heat if desired.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 7g
  • Sodium: 720mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 10g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 10g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 45g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 28g
  • Cholesterol: 90mg