Description
This classic Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta is a comforting Italian-American casserole featuring tender pasta layered with savory ground beef marinara sauce, creamy ricotta cheese, and gooey melted mozzarella and Parmesan. Perfect for a hearty family dinner, this baked dish combines simple ingredients with rich flavors for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta
Meat Sauce
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 oz (680g) marinara sauce
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil (for sautéing)
Cheese Mixture
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- Salt and pepper, a pinch
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for baking the ziti later.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside to cool slightly.
- Sauté Onion: In a large skillet, heat a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until it softens and becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef and Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet with onions, followed by the ground beef. Cook until the beef is fully browned, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce along with dried basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture simmer gently for 5-10 minutes to allow the flavors to develop.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Season lightly with salt and pepper and mix well.
- Assemble Layers: In a large baking dish, start by layering half of the cooked pasta. Spread half of the meat sauce evenly over the pasta, then dollop the ricotta cheese mixture on top. Repeat the layering with the remaining pasta and meat sauce. Finish by sprinkling the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the baked ziti rest for about 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set and make serving easier.
Notes
- The ricotta mixture can be made ahead and refrigerated to save time.
- Use whole milk ricotta for creamier texture or part-skim for lower fat.
- Fresh basil can be substituted for dried basil if available.
- Leftover baked ziti stores well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheats nicely.
- To add a little heat, consider stirring in red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
