Description
Baked Ziti is a comforting dish that combines hearty pasta, savory meat, tangy tomato sauce, and creamy cheese, perfect for family gatherings and potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (ziti or penne, cooked al dente)
- 1 pound ground beef or sausage (optional, browned)
- 2 cups tomato sauce (marinara or your favorite)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking meat and drizzling)
- To taste salt and pepper (for seasoning)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumb topping (optional, toasted with garlic and butter)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Begin by bringing a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once it’s boiling, add your pasta (ziti or penne) and cook until al dente, which is about 2 minutes less than what the package recommends. After cooking, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Brown the Meat: In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage if you’re using meat, and cook it until it’s browned, which takes around 8 minutes. If there’s excess fat after cooking, make sure to drain it off.
- Make the Sauce: Mix in the tomato sauce with the cooked meat in the skillet. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, half of the shredded mozzarella cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir this mixture until it’s smooth and well blended.
- Layer the Ingredients: Grab a baking dish and start layering your ingredients. First, layer half of the cooked pasta, followed by half of the meat sauce, then half of the cheese mixture, and half of the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers.
- Add Breadcrumbs (Optional): If you like a little crunch on top, toast the breadcrumbs in a small amount of butter and garlic. Sprinkle them over the top layer of cheese.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and place it in an oven preheated to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Once finished baking, let your Baked Ziti rest for about 10 minutes before slicing into it.
Notes
Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil or parsley. Pairs well with a side salad and garlic bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Italian Pasta, Comfort Food, Family Dinner, Cheese Dish