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A delicious tray of baked ziti with melted cheese and rich tomato sauce.

Baked Ziti

This baked ziti recipe is a proven way to achieve perfect results every time. It's a hearty and comforting dish that's sure to please.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 550
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
Meat Sauce
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 0.5 cup water or beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Cheese Mixture
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 0.25 teaspoon salt
  • 0.125 teaspoon black pepper

Equipment

  • large pot
  • large skillet or Dutch oven
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • aluminum foil

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Cook the ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
Make the Meat Sauce
  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon.
  2. Drain any excess fat, then add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  4. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, water or beef broth, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
  5. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it cook for at least 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
Prepare the Cheese Mixture
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, Parmesan cheese, egg, fresh parsley, salt, and pepper.
  2. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined.
Assemble the Baked Ziti
  1. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  2. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
  3. Add half of the cooked ziti pasta in an even layer over the sauce.
  4. Spoon dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, then spread it gently.
  5. Cover the cheese layer with half of the remaining meat sauce.
  6. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the remaining shredded mozzarella.
  7. Repeat the layers: remaining ziti, then the rest of the meat sauce, and finally the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Bake
  1. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil.
  2. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil.
  3. Continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Serve
  1. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
  2. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired and serve hot.

Notes

For an extra rich flavor, try adding a splash of red wine to the meat sauce while it simmers. You can also prepare this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it before baking. Just add about 10-15 minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.