Description
A comforting dish of baked ziti with creamy cheeses, savory meat, and hearty pasta, perfect for gatherings and family dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- Fresh basil (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta in salted boiling water until al dente (about 8-10 minutes), then drain.
- In a skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or sausage for about 5-7 minutes; drain excess fat.
- Stir in the marinara sauce with the meat mixture and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix drained pasta with ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella, half of the Parmesan, and fresh basil.
- In a baking dish, layer half of the meat sauce, followed by half of the pasta mixture, then repeat for the second layer.
- Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
Notes
Add a sprinkle of fresh basil or extra Parmesan on top before serving. Pairs well with salad and garlic bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: baked ziti, pasta, comfort food, Italian, family dinner