Description
A hearty and comforting baked pasta dish with ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions, then drain.
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium heat, then drain excess fat.
- Stir marinara sauce into the cooked ground beef.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Combine cooked pasta with the ricotta mixture.
- Layer half the pasta mixture in a baking dish, followed by half the meat sauce and half the mozzarella.
- Repeat layers, then top with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef for less grease.
- Substitute cottage cheese for ricotta if preferred.
- Add sautéed onions or mushrooms for extra flavor.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: baked ziti, ground beef pasta, cheesy pasta bake, Italian casserole