Easy Baked Ziti Tips
This easy baked ziti recipe is a crowd-pleaser! Perfectly cheesy, saucy, and comforting, it's ideal for weeknight dinners or potlucks.
Prep
: 10
Total
: 25 minutes
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 0.5 pound Ziti pasta
- 1 jar Marinara sauce 24 ounce jar
- 0.5 pound Ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 container Ricotta cheese 15 ounce
- 1 cup Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large Egg
- 0.5 teaspoon Salt
- 0.25 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Cook ziti pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- In a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half of the cooked ziti. Top with half of the ricotta mixture, then half of the meat sauce.
- Repeat the layers: remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown.
- Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For an extra layer of flavor, you can add some chopped fresh parsley or basil to the ricotta mixture. If you prefer a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.