Description
Comfort classics get a delicious upgrade with this mouthwatering Best Baked Ziti Ever recipe, blending rich Italian flavors and hearty ingredients. Creamy pasta, melted cheese, and savory marinara create a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 ounces / 680 grams) marinara sauce
Cheese Ingredients:
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Binding Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375F (190C), preparing a spacious 9×13-inch baking dish for a hearty Italian-inspired casserole.
- Cook ziti pasta in generously salted boiling water until al dente, then thoroughly drain and set aside.
- Brown ground meat in a large skillet, incorporating minced garlic until fragrant and meat is completely cooked. Drain any accumulated fat.
- Pour marinara sauce into the meat, enriching with dried herbs and seasonings. Allow mixture to simmer and develop flavors for approximately 10 minutes.
- Whisk ricotta cheese with grated Parmesan, beaten egg, and a subtle salt seasoning until smooth and well-combined.
- Create first pasta layer by spreading half the cooked ziti across baking dish’s bottom, followed by an even distribution of meat sauce.
- Carefully spread half the creamy ricotta mixture over sauce, then sprinkle generously with mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layering process with remaining pasta, sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella, creating a beautiful stratified casserole.
- Shield dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
- Remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and edges become deliciously bubbly.
- Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before serving, enabling ingredients to settle and flavors to intensify.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with plant-based crumbles or mushrooms for a vegetarian version that maintains rich, hearty flavor.
- Experiment with gluten-free pasta to make this dish celiac-friendly without compromising texture and taste.
- Use part-skim cheeses to reduce overall calorie content while keeping the ziti creamy and satisfying.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to streamline cooking process and make weeknight dinner preparation stress-free.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 514 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg