Description
A hearty baked ziti casserole perfect for a comforting weeknight meal. Layers of pasta, cheese, and savory sauce make this dish a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 pound ground beef or Italian sausage (optional)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook ziti pasta according to package directions. Drain.
- Brown ground beef or Italian sausage in a skillet if using. Drain excess fat.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, marinara sauce, ricotta, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with remaining mozzarella.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted.
- Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, skip the meat.
- Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if needed.
- Add sautéed vegetables like mushrooms or spinach for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of recipe
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
Keywords: baked ziti, casserole, pasta, weeknight dinner, comfort food