Description
Indulge in this comforting and cheesy Baked Ziti, a classic Italian-American pasta casserole that’s perfect for family dinners or gatherings. Layers of ziti pasta, savory meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and a trio of cheeses, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 lb (450 g) ziti pasta
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Mixture:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook Pasta: Cook ziti pasta until al dente; drain and set aside.
- Prepare Meat Sauce: Brown ground beef and onion, add garlic, marinara sauce, herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Mix cooked pasta with meat sauce and cheeses.
- Layer and Bake: Layer pasta mixture in a baking dish with cheese. Bake covered, then uncovered, until bubbly and golden.
- Rest and Serve: Let the dish rest before garnishing with parsley and serving.
Notes
- You can prepare this dish in advance and refrigerate before baking.
- For a vegetarian option, omit the meat or use sautéed mushrooms and spinach instead.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 generous scoop
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
