Description
Creamy, cheesy, and bursting with hearty flavors, this Ultimate Baked Ziti is the perfect comfort food for any occasion. Layers of ziti pasta, rich marinara sauce, and gooey cheese come together for a dish that’s easy to make and impossible to resist.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Ziti and Sauce:
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (plus 1 cup for topping)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (or 1 tsp dried parsley)
Instructions
-
Cook the Pasta:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti in salted boiling water until just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
-
Prepare the Sauce:
- Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef or sausage until browned, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add minced garlic, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, basil, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
-
Mix the Cheese Filling:
- In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, and parsley. Stir until smooth.
-
Assemble the Baked Ziti:
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Layer half the cooked ziti, half the sauce, and half the cheese mixture. Repeat with the remaining ziti, sauce, and cheese mixture.
- Sprinkle the top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
-
Bake:
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
-
Serve:
- Let the ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.
Notes
- For extra flavor, use a mix of ground beef and Italian sausage.
- Add sautéed vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for a veggie-packed version.
- This dish freezes well—assemble it ahead of time, freeze, and bake when needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg