Description
Baked Ziti is a classic Italian-American dish featuring layers of pasta, cheese, and sauce, perfect for any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (ziti or penne), cooked al dente
- 1 pound ground beef or sausage (optional)
- 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
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup breadcrumb topping (optional)
Instructions
- Begin by boiling salted water in a large pot. Cook the pasta until al dente, which usually takes about 2 minutes less than the package instructions suggest. Once done, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- In a skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef or sausage (if using) and cook until browned, which should take around 8 minutes. Make sure to break up the meat as it cooks for even browning.
- Once the meat is well browned, stir in your choice of tomato sauce. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, half of the shredded mozzarella, the grated Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix these ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Take a baking dish and start layering the ingredients. Begin with half of the cooked pasta, then add half of the meat sauce, followed by half of the cheese mixture. Finally, sprinkle half of the remaining mozzarella cheese on top.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining cooked pasta, meat sauce, cheese mixture, and top it off with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- If you choose to use breadcrumbs, you can take some butter and garlic, toast them together, and sprinkle this mixture on top of the dish for an extra crunch.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it into a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C). Bake for 25 minutes. After that, remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- After baking, allow the Baked Ziti to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This helps the layers set and makes it easier to serve.
Notes
Baked Ziti can be customized with vegetables or different cheeses. It’s a great meal prep option and can be made ahead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Italian American, Pasta, Comfort Food, Cheese