Description
A comforting and hearty Italian-American baked ziti dish with layers of pasta, cheese, and savory meat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz Ziti Pasta
- 24 oz Marinara Sauce
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 medium Onion
- 15 oz Ricotta Cheese
- 16 oz Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Italian Sausage
- 1 cup Fresh Basil
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the ziti pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the Meat and Aromatics: Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic in olive oil, then add ground meat and cook until browned.
- Add the Marinara Sauce: Stir in marinara sauce and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, mix cooked ziti, meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the fresh basil.
- Preheat the Oven and Assemble: Layer marinara sauce and the pasta mixture in a baking dish, topping with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the Ziti: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.
- Let it Rest and Serve: Let it cool for 5 minutes and garnish with basil before serving.
Notes
For added flavor, consider using fresh herbs and quality cheeses. You can also add red pepper flakes for some heat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: baked ziti, Italian recipe, comfort food, pasta dish