Description
Hearty baked ziti with ground beef and ricotta delivers comfort on a plate, blending Italian-American flavors into one irresistible casserole. Melted cheese, savory meat, and creamy ricotta promise a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Pasta and Meat:
- 1 pound ziti pasta (or penne)
- 1 pound ground beef
Cheese Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups ricotta cheese
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Herbs, Spices, and Sauce Ingredients:
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 (14.5 ounces) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Boil ziti pasta in salted water for 8-9 minutes until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, sauté chopped onions until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Introduce ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart while cooking until completely browned, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Eliminate excess fat from the beef, then incorporate marinara sauce, crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes.
- Season the meat sauce with salt and pepper, then simmer for 10 minutes to develop robust flavors.
- In a separate bowl, blend ricotta cheese with mozzarella and Parmesan, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Thoroughly mix cooked pasta with meat sauce in a large bowl.
- Layer half the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Distribute ricotta mixture across the first pasta layer using gentle spoonfuls.
- Cover with remaining pasta mixture, ensuring uniform coverage.
- Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Allow ziti to rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or basil and serve alongside garlic bread and green salad.
Notes
- Cook ziti exactly 8-9 minutes to maintain ideal al dente texture without becoming mushy.
- Drain excess beef fat to prevent greasy dish and keep sauce clean and appetizing.
- Gently spread ricotta mixture to ensure even layers and consistent flavor in every bite.
- Prepare entire dish in advance, refrigerate, and bake when ready to serve for convenient meal planning.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 485 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg