Name: Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: PT-483882H58M38S
Total time: PT-483882H58M38S
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound extra lean ground beef; 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 3 cups prepared marinara sauce; 1 pound ziti pasta; 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped); 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Description

This Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is a comforting and hearty Italian dish, featuring a flavorful meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and melty mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner or a crowd-pleasing meal!

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound extra lean ground beef
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
3 cups prepared marinara sauce
1 pound ziti pasta
1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 large egg
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

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Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 7-8 minutes).
Once the beef is cooked, stir in the marinara sauce. Bring to a simmer and let it cook for 5-10 minutes to let the flavors combine. Remove from heat and set aside.
Meanwhile, cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix until smooth.
In a large baking dish, layer the ingredients. Start with a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom, followed by half of the cooked pasta, then spread half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta. Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining meat sauce, pasta, ricotta mixture, and the other cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let the baked ziti cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

Notes

You can use any ground meat you prefer (e.g., turkey or pork) instead of ground beef.
For a richer flavor, try using whole-milk ricotta instead of part-skim.

Feel free to add extra herbs like basil or oregano for additional flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
Category: Dinner, Comfort Food
Method: Baked
Cuisine: Italian