Description
This Easy Baked Ziti recipe is a delicious and comforting Italian-American dish that the whole family will love. With layers of pasta, flavorful meat sauce, and plenty of gooey cheese, it’s the perfect meal for any night of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup water
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the meat sauce: In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil, then add ground beef or sausage. Season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir in marinara sauce and water, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the cooked ziti with the meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella.
- Layer and bake: Spread half of the pasta mixture in a baking dish, top with half of the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheeses. Bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 10–15 minutes until bubbly.
- Serve: Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute ricotta with cottage cheese or add spinach for extra vegetables.
- Try using spicy sausage for a flavor boost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
