Description
A hearty and comforting Italian-American pasta dish with layers of ziti, seasoned beef, ricotta cheese, and marinara sauce, baked to perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti according to package instructions, then drain.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain excess fat, and mix with marinara sauce.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Layer half the cooked ziti in a baking dish, top with half the ricotta mixture, then half the meat sauce.
- Repeat layers, ending with remaining mozzarella on top.
- Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for beef if preferred.
- Use fresh basil and oregano for a stronger herbal flavor.
- For a crispier top, broil for the last 2-3 minutes.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of dish
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: baked ziti, beef pasta, ricotta pasta, Italian casserole, baked pasta recipe