Description
Creamy, cheesy best baked ziti ever recipe delivers Italian comfort straight to dinner tables. Melted mozzarella, rich marinara, and hearty pasta create a soul-warming meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Main Pasta and Cheese:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375°F and lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare ziti pasta in salted boiling water until perfectly tender, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium flame, introducing ground meat and cooking until it develops a rich, caramel-brown exterior.
- Infuse the meat with aromatic garlic, Italian herbs, and seasonings, creating a robust flavor profile.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, allowing the mixture to simmer and meld together for several minutes.
- In a generous mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with approximately half of the vibrant meat sauce, ensuring even distribution.
- Create the first architectural layer in the prepared baking dish by spreading the pasta-sauce mixture as a foundation.
- Strategically place dollops of creamy ricotta across the surface, then generously sprinkle with a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Construct the second layer by adding the remaining pasta mixture, followed by the residual meat sauce.
- Complete the dish with a final lavish coating of mozzarella and Parmesan, ensuring complete coverage.
- Transfer to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling masterpiece.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 5 minutes, which helps the layers settle and intensifies the flavors.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves for a vibrant finishing touch, then serve while gloriously warm.
Notes
- Customize the meat by using ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter or vegetarian version that keeps the dish’s hearty flavor.
- Make it gluten-free by substituting regular ziti with gluten-free pasta, ensuring everyone can enjoy this comforting meal.
- Prep ingredients ahead of time to create a quick weeknight dinner, storing meat sauce and cooked pasta separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
- Balance cheese richness by using part-skim mozzarella and reducing ricotta quantity for a healthier yet delicious alternative without sacrificing taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg