Description
This cheesy baked ziti recipe is the ultimate comfort food, made with layers of ziti pasta, marinara, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and savory ground beef. Perfect for family dinners, easy to prep ahead, and freezer-friendly. A cozy baked pasta dish with Italian seasoning, garlic, and melty cheese for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (optional)
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir until fragrant.
3. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese with a bit of salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Add a handful of mozzarella and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
4. In a large baking dish, add a layer of marinara sauce, followed by pasta, meat, ricotta mixture, more sauce, and cheese. Repeat until full.
5. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 10 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Notes
This dish can be assembled a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
Use penne or rigatoni if ziti isn’t available.
You can swap ground beef for sausage or keep it meatless with extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous portion
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 790mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg