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Classic Baked Ziti: A Truly Happy & Hearty 5-Star Meal

Classic Baked Ziti
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This classic baked ziti recipe delivers a hearty, cheesy, and crowd-pleasing pasta dish. It features layers of ziti pasta, a rich meat sauce (or marinara), creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, creating the ultimate Italian-American comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional, for meat sauce)
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 15 ounces tomato sauce
  • 6 ounces tomato paste
  • 1 cup water or beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 pound shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. Cook ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. If using meat, add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
  3. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water or broth, basil, and oregano. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper.
  5. While the sauce simmers, prepare the ricotta mixture. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Mix well.
  6. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  7. In a large baking dish (9×13 inch), spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom.
  8. Add half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Top with half of the ricotta mixture, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle with one-third of the mozzarella cheese.
  9. Add another layer of remaining ziti, then the remaining ricotta mixture. Cover with half of the remaining meat sauce.
  10. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
  11. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
  12. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and use a good quality marinara sauce.
  • You can prepare the sauce and cook the pasta ahead of time to make assembly quicker.
  • Leftover baked ziti stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • This dish freezes well. Assemble the ziti but do not bake. Cover tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://whiskdaily.com/classic-baked-ziti-recipe/