Classic Baked Ziti Recipe
This Classic Baked Ziti. Is the epitome of comfort food. A warm, cheesy, and hearty dish. That's perfect for feeding. A hungry family. Each bite is filled with tender pasta. Flavorful meat sauce. And a creamy ricotta mixture. All baked together. Under a blanket of melted mozzarella. And Parmesan. Whether it's a casual weeknight dinner. Or a special family gathering. This dish is sure to be a hit. Plus, it's a great make-ahead meal. That tastes even better the next day. Making it perfect for leftovers. Or meal prepping.
8 Servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound of ziti pasta
- 1 pound of ground beef or sausage
- 28 oz. of marinara sauce homemade or store-bought
- 2 c of canned diced tomatoes undrained
- 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
- 4 oz. of fresh mozzarella cheese
- 2 c of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 c of grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to your preference
Ricotta Cheese Mixture:
- 2 c of ricotta cheese
- 1 c of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon of finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 garlic clove finely grated
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a large pot. Cook the ground beef. Until it’s fully browned. Season it with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Mix in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Cover the pot. And let it simmer. For about 15 minutes. After simmering. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed. Then set aside 2 cups of the sauce.
- While the sauce is simmering. Cook the ziti pasta. In a pot of boiling salted water. Until al dente.
- In a mixing bowl. Combine the ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. With the egg, parsley, basil, and grated garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Then set aside.
- Once the pasta is done. Mix it into the meat sauce. Spread half of the pasta mixture. Into a 9x13-inch baking dish. Spoon dollops of the ricotta mixture. Over the ziti. Along with slices of fresh mozzarella.
- Pour the reserved 2 cups of meat sauce. Over the top. Add the remaining ziti and ricotta mixture. Then sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella. And parmesan cheeses.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. And bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil. And bake for another 10 minutes. Then broil for 1-2 minutes. To achieve a golden, bubbly top. If desired, garnish with fresh basil. Or parsley before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
To make this Classic Baked Ziti gluten-free. Simply swap out the regular ziti pasta. For your favorite gluten-free variety. There are many excellent options available. That will hold up well in this dish. Be sure to check. That your marinara sauce. And any other prepared ingredients, like the diced tomatoes. Are also gluten-free. With these simple substitutions. You can enjoy all the comforting flavors of this baked ziti. Without any gluten concerns. The result is a dish. That's just as delicious. And satisfying. As the original!