Best Baked Ziti Ever (Print-Friendly Version)
Tender pasta, seasoned meat, rich tomato sauce, and melted cheese baked in one comforting Italian-American dish.
# What You’ll Need to Make This:
01 -
450 g ziti pasta
02 -
450 g ground beef or Italian sausage
03 -
680 g marinara sauce
04 -
250 g ricotta cheese
05 -
200 g shredded mozzarella cheese
06 -
50 g grated Parmesan cheese
07 -
2 garlic cloves, minced
08 -
0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
09 -
0.5 teaspoon dried basil
10 -
Salt, to taste
11 -
Black pepper, to taste
# How to Prepare:
01 -
Preheat oven to 190°C. Lightly grease a 33 x 23 cm baking dish.
02 -
Boil ziti in salted water until al dente following package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 -
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until thoroughly browned. Drain excess fat.
04 -
Add minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper to the pan. Sauté for 1 minute until aromatic.
05 -
Stir marinara sauce into the meat mixture. Simmer for 5 minutes over low heat.
06 -
In a large mixing bowl, toss cooked pasta with the meat sauce until evenly coated.
07 -
Spread half of the pasta mixture in the prepared dish. Evenly distribute ricotta cheese over the top, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
08 -
Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then cover with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
09 -
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for 10 more minutes until the top is golden and bubbling.
10 -
Allow dish to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
# Extra Tips:
01 -
Italian sausage may be used for richer flavor.
02 -
Incorporate spinach or sautéed mushrooms for extra vegetables.
03 -
Preparation can be completed ahead of time and baked when ready to serve.