Description
Baked ziti is a classic comfort food featuring layers of pasta, rich tomato sauce, and a blend of creamy cheeses, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pasta (ziti or penne) (cooked al dente)
- 1 pound ground beef or sausage (optional, browned)
- 2 cups tomato sauce (marinara or your favorite)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking meat and drizzling)
- to taste salt and pepper (for seasoning)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumb topping (optional, toasted with garlic and butter)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your pasta and cook until al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the Meat: In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef or sausage (if using) and cook until browned, about 8 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: While the meat is cooking, stir in the tomato sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Cheese Mixture: In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, half of the mozzarella, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth.
- Layer the Ingredients: In a baking dish, layer half of the pasta, half of the meat sauce, half of the cheese mixture, and half of the remaining mozzarella.
- Repeat Layering: Add the remaining pasta, meat sauce, cheese mixture, and top with remaining mozzarella.
- Add Breadcrumbs (Optional): Toast breadcrumbs in butter and garlic and sprinkle over the top layer.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Cool and Serve: Let the dish rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Customize your cheese by mixing in different types for a unique flavor. Vegetables can also be added for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg