Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Ricotta
Ziti tossed with a savory beef marinara sauce, creamy ricotta, and mozzarella, baked until bubbling.
Equipment
- 9 by 13 inch baking dish
- Large pot
- Large skillet
- Aluminum foil
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce one jar
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 handful fresh basil optional garnish
Instructions
Cooking
- Preheat. Heat the oven to 375 degrees F and grease a 9 by 13 inch dish.
- Pasta. Boil the ziti 1 minute under the package time and drain.
- Sauce. Brown the beef with the onion and garlic for 5 to 7 minutes, drain, then simmer with the marinara and seasonings for 5 minutes.
- Assemble. Mix the pasta, sauce, ricotta, and half the mozzarella, spread in the dish, and top with the rest of the mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Bake. Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes, then uncover and bake 10 to 15 minutes until golden.
Notes
Substitutions: Penne or rigatoni can replace the ziti, and cottage cheese can replace the ricotta.
Tips: Make the meat sauce a day ahead to save time.
Storage: Refrigerate up to four days or freeze up to three months. Nutrition does not include the optional basil.