Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Best Ever Baked Ziti recipe. Layers of perfectly cooked ziti pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy cheeses, and fragrant basil come together to create a dish that’s sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Ziti Pasta:
1 pound ziti pasta
Ricotta Cheese Mixture:
15 ounces ricotta cheese
Cheese Blend:
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Meat Sauce:
4 cups marinara sauce, 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Additional:
Fresh basil (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat and Cook Pasta: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti pasta until al dente.
- Brown Meat: Brown ground beef or sausage in a skillet over medium heat; drain fat.
- Combine Meat and Sauce: Stir in marinara sauce, let simmer.
- Mix Pasta and Cheeses: Combine drained pasta with ricotta, half of mozzarella, half of Parmesan, and basil.
- Layer: In a baking dish, layer meat sauce, pasta mixture; repeat.
- Bake: Top with remaining cheeses, bake covered, then uncovered until bubbly.
Notes
- You can customize the meat in this recipe with ground turkey, chicken, or even a meatless substitute for a vegetarian version.
- For added flavor, consider adding a layer of sautéed vegetables like bell peppers and onions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Pasta Bake, Comfort Food
