Description
A delicious and hearty baked ziti dish with layers of flavorful beef, cheese, and pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- 4 qt Water
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 cups Marinara sauce
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 medium Onion
- 15 oz Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water for about 8 minutes until al dente.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat for about 5-7 minutes.
- Drain excess fat, then add marinara sauce to the beef and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Combine the cooked pasta with the beef and sauce mixture in a large bowl.
- Layer half of your pasta mixture in a greased baking dish, sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese, then repeat with remaining pasta and top with more cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
- Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving for an extra pop of flavor.
Notes
- Choose a sturdy shape of pasta like ziti that holds up well to the sauce and cheese.
- Using salted water to cook the pasta enhances its flavor.
- Opt for lean ground beef for a healthier dish.
- You can use your favorite brand of marinara sauce or make it homemade.
- Fresh minced garlic adds significant depth to the dish’s flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg