Description
This Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a classic Italian comfort food made with extra-lean ground beef, ricotta cheese, and marinara sauce, all baked to perfection with mozzarella cheese. It’s a hearty and satisfying dish that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cups prepared marinara sauce
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the meat sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the prepared marinara sauce to the skillet with the ground beef, and stir to combine. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Prepare the ricotta mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and chopped parsley. Mix well.
- Assemble the ziti: In a large baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti pasta. Top with half of the meat sauce, followed by half of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, sauce, and ricotta mixture.
- Top and bake: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the ziti. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let the ziti cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier version, you can add red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- You can prepare this dish ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator before baking.
- You can substitute the ricotta with cottage cheese if preferred.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Italian
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian