Description
A comforting, hearty dish with tender ziti pasta, savory ground beef, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella, all baked to perfection. Perfect for family dinners! #BakedZiti #GroundBeef #Ricotta #ItalianFood #PastaDish #ComfortFood #FamilyDinner #EasyDinner #HomemadeCooking
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz (680g) marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil (for sautéing)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and ground beef. Cook until the beef is browned, breaking it up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, dried basil, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste. Let it simmer for 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with 1 cup of mozzarella and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- In a large baking dish, layer the cooked pasta, followed by the meat sauce, and then the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers, finishing with a generous amount of mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can substitute the ground beef with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Add fresh herbs like basil or parsley on top for extra flavor and a pop of color.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of the dish
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg