Bubbling Baked Ziti

A classic Italian comfort dish featuring ziti pasta, rich ground beef and tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, all baked to a bubbly, golden perfection. Served with quick garlic bread and a simple green salad.

• Prep: 25 min
• Cook: 30 min
• Total: 55 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $6.58/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• High-Protein

Tags

• bake
• classic
• comfort food
• one-pot
• savory

Ingredients

• 12 ounce ziti pasta
• 1.5 pound ground beef
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (medium, diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 can crushed tomatoes
• 1 can tomato paste
• 0.5 cup beef broth
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt (divided)
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 15 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 egg (large)
• 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
• 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 garlic bread
• 5 ounce mixed greens
• 0.5 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 0.5 cucumber (sliced)
• 0.5 cup Italian dressing

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, dried oregano, dried basil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and let it gently bubble while you prepare the cheese mixture.
5. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix well.
6. In a large 9x13 inch baking dish, spread about 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom. Layer with half of the cooked ziti, then dollop with half of the ricotta mixture, and sprinkle with 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of ziti, remaining ricotta, and remaining mozzarella. Pour the rest of the meat sauce evenly over the top.
7. Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
8. While the ziti bakes uncovered, prepare the garlic bread according to package directions. In a separate bowl, toss the mixed greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and Italian dressing for a simple side salad.
9. Let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve hot with garlic bread and the fresh green salad. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan and fresh parsley, if desired.

Notes

This baked ziti reheats beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 685
• Protein: 45.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 54.1 g
• Fat: 33.7 g
• Fiber: 5.2 g
• Sodium: 1050 mg
• Saturated Fat: 14.8 g
• Sugar: 10.1 g
• Cholesterol: 125 mg