Description
This easy baked ziti pasta casserole is a comforting Italian-American classic featuring tender pasta, a flavorful ground beef marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a family dinner or potluck, this dish combines simple ingredients to create a hearty, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta and Meat Sauce
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 5 cups marinara sauce
Cheese and Herbs
- 15 oz fresh ricotta cheese
- 10 fresh basil leaves
- 12 oz mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil salted water and cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain the pasta and set aside, ensuring not to overcook as it will bake further in the oven.
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: In a deep pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until fully cooked and the onions are softened, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add minced garlic, salt, and black pepper, sauté for 1 more minute.
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in 5 cups of marinara sauce, bring to a simmer, and cook for 5 minutes. Then remove from heat.
- Mix Ricotta and Basil: Spread a ladle of meat sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Chop the basil leaves and add to the remaining sauce along with the ricotta cheese.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce mixture and gently stir just until all noodles are coated, keeping the ricotta texture intact.
- Layer the Casserole: Transfer half of the sauced pasta into the casserole dish. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella and half of the grated parmesan on top. Add the remaining pasta and finish with the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses.
- Prepare for Baking: Wipe clear the edges of the casserole dish to prevent cheese from burning onto the sides.
- Bake: Bake the casserole in a preheated oven at 350°F for 25 minutes.
- Broil to Brown: Broil the casserole for 1 to 2 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly on top.
- Cool and Serve: Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh basil leaves if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
- Ensure not to overcook the pasta before baking to avoid mushy texture.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or Italian sausage for a different flavor.
- For extra creaminess, add a splash of heavy cream to the ricotta mixture.
- If fresh basil is not available, dried basil can be used, but reduce quantity to 1 teaspoon.
- Letting the baked ziti rest for a few minutes after baking helps it set and makes serving easier.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: fortyTwo g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
