Description
A cozy, classic pasta bake layered with hearty meat sauce and melted cheese. This Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is the ultimate comfort food, perfect for weeknights or feeding a crowd. It’s easy to prep, great for leftovers, and always a hit.
Ingredients
1 lb ziti pasta
1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese (optional)
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown ground beef. Drain excess fat.
- Add onion to the skillet and cook until soft. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
- Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix pasta with two-thirds of the meat sauce. Add ricotta if using.
- Layer half the pasta in the baking dish, top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, and cheeses.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Garnish with parsley before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner