Description
This irresistible easy baked ziti recipe is a cozy, cheesy pasta bake that turns simple ingredients into a family-friendly dinner everyone will want seconds of. Made with tender ziti pasta, rich marinara sauce, savory ground beef, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, it is an easy recipe for weeknight dinner ideas, comforting food ideas, meal prep, potlucks, and quick dinner planning when you want something hearty without extra stress.
Ingredients
1 pound ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
24 ounces marinara sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
15 ounces ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the ziti, and cook 1 to 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain well.
3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened.
4. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
6. Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes.
7. In a bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
8. Add the cooked ziti to the meat sauce and toss until evenly coated.
9. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Spoon the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
10. Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
11. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden.
12. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes, then garnish with parsley or basil and serve warm.
Notes
Use pasta cooked just shy of al dente so it does not become too soft after baking.
For extra flavor, replace half or all of the ground beef with Italian sausage.
Let the casserole rest before serving so the sauce and cheese settle into clean, hearty portions.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: easy baked ziti recipe, baked ziti, pasta bake, easy dinner, dinner ideas, family dinner, comfort food, cheesy pasta casserole