Description
Indulge in the rich, comforting flavors of baked ziti! With layers of tender pasta, hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted cheese, this dish is the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Whether it’s a family dinner, potluck, or a make-ahead freezer meal, baked ziti brings everyone together around the table.
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 1 pound ziti or penne pasta
- Kosher salt
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage, ground beef, or ground pork
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or basil
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 4 cups jarred marinara or homemade tomato sauce
- Black pepper, to taste
For the Cheese:
-
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese
- 1 heaping cup ricotta cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. - Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti or penne pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking. - Prepare the Meat Sauce:
Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Brown the meat without stirring too often for better flavor.
Once browned, stir in the chopped onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until translucent. Add the garlic, rosemary or basil, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes, and cook for another minute.
Stir in the marinara sauce, bring to a simmer, and season with salt and black pepper to taste. - Assemble the Casserole:
Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish. Dot with half of the ricotta cheese.
Mix a spoonful of sauce into the cooked pasta and layer the pasta over the sauce in the dish. Pour the remaining sauce evenly over the pasta.
Dot the top with the remaining ricotta, and sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses evenly on top. - Bake:
Place the dish in the oven and bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the top is lightly browned. - Cool and Serve:
Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes slicing easier.
Notes
- Make Ahead: Assemble the ziti, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Freezing Option: Freeze the assembled ziti before baking. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and bake as directed.
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the meat and add sautéed vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American