Nana's Baked Ziti

A comforting baked pasta dish with a rich meat sauce, layers of tender ziti, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, perfect for a hearty family meal.

• Prep: 30 min
• Cook: 45 min
• Total: 1 hr 15 min
• Servings: 7
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $5.63/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• High-Protein

Tags

• bake
• classic
• comfort food
• savory

Ingredients

• 1 pound ziti pasta
• 1.5 pound ground beef
• 1 yellow onion (large, diced)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 15 ounce tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 16 ounce ricotta cheese
• 1 egg (large)
• 4 ounce Parmesan cheese (grated)
• 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.75 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 garlic bread
• 5 ounce mixed greens
• 2 tablespoon Italian dressing

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart 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 sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper, dried oregano, and dried basil. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix well until smooth.
6. In a large baking dish (9x13 inch), spread about 1 cup of meat sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce, then dollop half of the ricotta mixture over the ziti. Top with half of the remaining meat sauce and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
7. Repeat the layers: remaining ziti, remaining ricotta mixture, remaining meat sauce, and then top with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. While the ziti bakes, prepare the garlic bread according to package directions and toss the mixed greens with Italian dressing and 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
9. Garnish with fresh parsley, if desired. Serve with a side of mixed greens and garlic bread.

Notes

Leftovers store wonderfully in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making this an excellent make-ahead meal. You can also assemble it ahead of time and bake it just before serving.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 780
• Protein: 54.3 g
• Carbohydrates: 65.5 g
• Fat: 33 g
• Fiber: 6.8 g
• Sodium: 1350 mg
• Saturated Fat: 15.6 g
• Sugar: 12.1 g
• Cholesterol: 155 mg