Description
This Baked Ziti recipe is an easy and comforting pasta casserole perfect for family dinners. It features al dente pasta baked with a rich meat marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, fresh basil, and a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheeses that create a bubbly, golden topping.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 5 cups marinara sauce
- 15 oz fresh ricotta cheese
- 10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain the pasta well and set aside to prevent overcooking as it will finish cooking in the oven.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Heat a deep pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion, breaking up the beef with a spatula. Cook until the beef is fully cooked and onions are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic, salt, and black pepper; sauté for an additional minute. Pour in marinara sauce, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 more minutes. Remove from heat.
- Combine Ricotta and Basil: In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese with the chopped basil leaves, then stir this mixture into the meat sauce to combine evenly.
- Mix Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the meat and ricotta sauce mixture and gently stir just until the noodles are coated. This helps retain the creamy texture of the ricotta.
- Layer the Casserole: Spread a ladle of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Transfer half of the pasta mixture into the dish. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the grated parmesan over the pasta. Add the remaining pasta mixture on top, then finish with the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Bake the Ziti: Clean the edges of the casserole dish to prevent cheese from burning on the sides. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 25 minutes until bubbly.
- Broil for Color: Turn on the broiler and broil the casserole for 1-2 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and slightly crisp on top. Monitor closely to avoid burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let the baked ziti cool for 5 minutes. Garnish with additional fresh basil leaves if desired before serving.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need a gluten-free version.
- To make this dish vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with cooked lentils or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Do not overcook the pasta initially; undercooking prevents mushiness after baking.
- Fresh basil can be substituted with dried basil if fresh is not available, using about 1 teaspoon dried.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat beautifully.
- For extra richness, you may stir in a beaten egg with the ricotta mixture before combining with the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1 cup)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
