The Best Baked Ziti
Dive into pure comfort food with "The Best Baked Ziti," a hearty Italian-American classic bursting with bold flavors and gooey layers of cheesy goodness. This easy-to-follow recipe combines tender ziti pasta, savory marinara sauce simmered with your choice of ground beef or Italian sausage, and a luscious ricotta-cheese blend enhanced with fresh basil and Parmesan. Topped with a golden, bubbly layer of melted mozzarella, this baked ziti is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, ready in just one hour. Perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or family gatherings, this rich and satisfying dish pairs beautifully with a crisp side salad and warm garlic bread. Whether you're meal prepping or serving fresh from the oven, this baked ziti is guaranteed to become a favorite comfort food staple.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 16 oz ziti pasta
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 24 oz jar of marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 0.25 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with a light coating of olive oil or non-stick spray.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Add the ground beef or Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the meat mixture. Stir to combine and let it simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, half the shredded mozzarella (1 cup), grated Parmesan cheese, egg, chopped basil, salt, and black pepper. Mix well until smooth.
Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta on top of the sauce. Add half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, spreading it evenly. Repeat with another layer of meat sauce, pasta, and ricotta mixture.
Top the final layer with the remaining meat sauce and sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional fresh basil if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
532 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 31.6 g | 41% | |
| Saturated Fat | 14.9 g | 74% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 118 mg | 39% | |
| Sodium | 1024 mg | 45% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 28.8 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.8 g | 10% | |
| Total Sugars | 5.4 g | ||
| Protein | 32.3 g | 65% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 456 mg | 35% | |
| Iron | 2.5 mg | 14% | |
| Potassium | 474 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
