Description
A hearty and satisfying dish that combines pasta, cheese, and savory sauce, perfect for family dinners and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti or penne pasta (cooked al dente)
- 1 pound ground beef or sausage (optional, browned)
- 2 cups tomato sauce (marinara or your favorite)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg (beaten)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking meat and drizzling)
- To taste salt and pepper (for seasoning)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumb topping (optional, toasted with garlic and butter)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted boiling water until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Brown the meat in olive oil in a skillet over medium heat for about 8 minutes.
- Prepare the sauce by stirring in the tomato sauce with the browned meat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Make the cheese mixture by combining ricotta cheese with the beaten egg, half of the mozzarella, and Parmesan; season with salt and pepper.
- Layer the pasta, meat sauce, cheese mixture, and more mozzarella in a baking dish.
- Add toasted breadcrumbs on top if desired.
- Bake at 375°F (190°C) covered with foil for 25 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Experiment with different pasta shapes, meats, and cheeses to customize your Baked Ziti.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Baked Ziti, Pasta, Italian, Comfort Food, Cheese