Description
Comforting weeknight baked ziti brings Italian-American pasta magic straight to your dinner table. Cheesy layers of rigatoni, marinara, and melted mozzarella create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb (454 g) dry ziti
Meats:
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef or mild Italian sausage
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Sauces and Dairy:
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 lb (454 g) ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, grated (divided)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, chopped into 1/4-inch cubes (divided)
Instructions
- Prepare the foundation by heating the oven to 375°F and coating a 9×13-inch baking vessel with a light grease layer.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta until slightly undercooked, approximately 5-6 minutes. Drain and reserve.
- In a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, thoroughly brown the meat, separating into small fragments. Eliminate excess fat if necessary.
- Incorporate Italian herbs, red pepper flakes, and marinara sauce into the meat. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, developing rich flavors.
- Create a creamy blend by whisking ricotta with eggs, mixing in half the Parmesan and mozzarella until uniform.
- Generate a luxurious cream base by whisking cornstarch into heavy cream over medium heat. Stir continuously until slightly thickened, then remove from heat.
- Fold the ricotta mixture and one cup of marinara into the cream sauce, creating a cohesive mixture.
- Merge the drained pasta with the ricotta cream sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper for balanced taste.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading evenly.
- Ladle remaining marinara across the surface and generously scatter remaining cheese on top.
- Shield with nonstick-sprayed foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Allow the dish to rest for 10 minutes before serving, permitting flavors to settle and stabilize.
Notes
- Choose ground beef or Italian sausage for extra flavor, ensuring the meat is browned thoroughly and excess fat is drained to prevent a greasy dish.
- Cook pasta slightly underdone since it will continue cooking in the oven, preventing mushy texture and maintaining perfect al dente consistency.
- Experiment with cheese variations like adding provolone or using a blend of different Italian cheeses for more complex flavor profiles.
- Make this dish vegetarian by substituting meat with roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or mushrooms, maintaining the rich and satisfying texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 557 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg