Description
This Cheesy Baked Ziti is a comforting and hearty pasta bake layered with savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and three types of melty cheese. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd, meal prepping, or enjoying as leftovers throughout the week.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
1 pound ground beef
3 cups marinara sauce
1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the ziti pasta in salted boiling water until just under al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain excess grease and stir in the marinara sauce. Simmer for 5-7 minutes.
4. In a separate bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until combined.
5. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
6. Layer half of the pasta, all of the ricotta mixture, half of the mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
7. Add the remaining pasta, top with meat sauce, then sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
9. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
10. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Slightly undercook your pasta to prevent it from getting mushy while baking.
For more depth, mix half Italian sausage with the ground beef.
Let the ziti rest before serving to help the layers set and slice cleanly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (about 1/8 of dish)
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Cheesy Pasta, Casserole, Comfort Food