Description
Layers of tender ziti, hearty meat sauce, and bubbling melted cheese baked to golden perfection — the ultimate Italian comfort classic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and cook ziti until al dente; drain.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil, sauté onion and garlic, then add beef and cook until browned.
- Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; simmer 5–10 minutes.
- Combine ziti with ricotta, half of the mozzarella, and half of the sauce mixture.
- Spread half in a baking dish, add remaining sauce, and top with mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes until bubbly and golden brown.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving for easy slicing and extra cheesiness.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, substitute ground beef with mushrooms or lentils.
- Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- Can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg