Beef and Tomato Baked Ziti

A hearty baked ziti featuring a rich beef and tomato sauce layered with pasta and melted mozzarella, perfect for a satisfying weekend meal. Accompanied by crisp garlic bread and a simple green salad.

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 35 min
• Total: 55 min
• Servings: 5
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $5.73/serving

Dietary

• High-Protein
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• High-Fiber

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• classic
• crowd-pleaser

Ingredients

• 1.5 pound ground beef (80/20 lean)
• 1 yellow onion (diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 ounce ziti pasta (uncooked)
• 2 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
• 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 1 garlic bread (store-bought)
• 4 ounce mixed greens
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. In a large pot, cook the 12 ounces of ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. While pasta cooks, in a large skillet or Dutch oven, brown the 1 1/2 pounds of ground beef over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon. Drain any excess fat.
4. Add the 1 diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in the 3 cloves of minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Stir in the 1 can of crushed tomatoes, 1 can of tomato sauce, 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and let it cook gently for 10-15 minutes.
6. In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread half of the cooked ziti pasta. Top with half of the beef and tomato sauce, then sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Repeat layers with the remaining pasta, sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle the 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted and golden. While the ziti bakes, prepare the garlic bread according to package directions and toss the mixed greens with olive oil and red wine vinegar.
9. Let the baked ziti rest for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with garlic bread and the green salad.

Notes

This dish reheats beautifully and makes for excellent leftovers. For a lower-carb option, consider using whole wheat ziti pasta.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 923
• Protein: 49.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 76.9 g
• Fat: 48 g
• Fiber: 9.4 g
• Sodium: 1633 mg
• Saturated Fat: 18.8 g
• Sugar: 13.8 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg