Description
This Weeknight Baked Ziti is a comforting and hearty pasta dish perfect for a quick and delicious dinner. It combines ziti pasta, ground beef or Italian sausage, a creamy ricotta mixture, and a blend of cheeses for a classic baked ziti flavor.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb dry ziti
- 1 lb lean ground beef or mild Italian sausage
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 lb ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated and divided
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, chopped into 1/4-inch cubes and divided
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cook ziti according to package instructions until al dente. Brown the ground beef or Italian sausage in a skillet.
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, mix together Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, marinara sauce, heavy cream, cornstarch, eggs, ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, and 1 cup mozzarella.
- Layer and Bake: In a baking dish, layer ziti, meat, sauce mixture, remaining Parmesan, and mozzarella. Repeat layers. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes until bubbly.
Notes
- You can add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms to the sauce for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Feel free to substitute the ground beef or sausage with ground turkey for a lighter option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg