Description
A hearty Italian-American pasta bake layered with tender ziti, rich meat sauce, and melty cheese for the ultimate comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. Season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, ricotta cheese, and half the mozzarella.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer half the pasta mixture, half the meat sauce, and half the remaining mozzarella. Repeat layers.
- Sprinkle Parmesan and a little Italian seasoning on top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes more until cheese is golden and bubbly.
Notes
Let the baked ziti rest for about 10 minutes before serving for cleaner slices. For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta bake, meat sauce, comfort food