Description
At its core, baked ziti with ground beef is a casserole-style pasta dish that combines tubular ziti noodles, a savory meat sauce, and a trio of classic Italian cheeses. Unlike lasagna, which requires tedious layering of wide, flat noodles, ziti is much more forgiving. The hollow centers of the pasta act like tiny chimneys, capturing the rich marinara and melted cheese, ensuring that every single bite is packed with flavor.
Ingredients
450 g (1 lb) ziti pasta
450 g (1 lb) ground beef
2 cups marinara or pasta sauce
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup grated Parmesan
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
1️⃣ Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook ziti until just al dente (it will finish cooking in the oven).
Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Make the meat sauce
Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Sauté onion for 3–4 minutes until soft.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Add ground beef, cook until browned.
Drain excess fat if needed.
Stir in marinara sauce, seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Simmer 5–10 minutes.
3️⃣ Mix the filling
In a bowl, combine:
Ricotta
Half of the mozzarella
A pinch of salt & pepper
4️⃣ Assemble
Preheat oven to 190°C (375°F).
Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in a baking dish.
Add half the pasta.
Spread ricotta mixture.
Add remaining pasta and top with the rest of the sauce.
Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
5️⃣ Bake
Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake 10–15 minutes until bubbly and lightly golden.
Notes
This baked ziti is cozy, cheesy, and perfect for family dinners or meal prep. Feel free to customize it with your favorite veggies or extra herbs to make it your own!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (about 1½ cups)
- Calories: 520 kcal