Cheesy Baked Ziti with Hidden Veggies
Cheesy Baked Ziti with Hidden Veggies
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 15 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 1/4 tablespoons salt, for pasta water
For the Meat Sauce with Hidden Veggies
- 1 1/4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, large, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, large, grated
- 1 zucchini, medium, grated
- 3/4 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 35 ounces crushed tomatoes, can
- 1 1/4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Cheese Layer
- 19 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 2 large egg
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 7-9 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, grated carrot, grated zucchini, and chopped spinach to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables have softened and the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 7 min
- 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, sugar, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 12 min
- 6
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
In the prepared baking dish, spread about 1 1/4 cups of the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Top with dollops of half of the ricotta mixture, spreading gently. Sprinkle with 1 1/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Repeat the layers: remaining ziti, remaining ricotta mixture, and then cover with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Remove from oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set and makes for easier serving.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Baked Ziti with Hidden Veggies
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 15 ounces ziti pasta
- 1 1/4 tablespoons salt, for pasta water
For the Meat Sauce with Hidden Veggies
- 1 1/4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/4 pounds lean ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, large, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, large, grated
- 1 zucchini, medium, grated
- 3/4 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 35 ounces crushed tomatoes, can
- 1 1/4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 1/4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Cheese Layer
- 19 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 2 large egg
- 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 1/2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 7-9 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Add the diced onion, minced garlic, grated carrot, grated zucchini, and chopped spinach to the skillet with the beef. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables have softened and the spinach has wilted.
⏱️ 7 min - 5
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, sugar, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 3/4 teaspoon black pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 12 min - 6
In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
In the prepared baking dish, spread about 1 1/4 cups of the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Top with dollops of half of the ricotta mixture, spreading gently. Sprinkle with 1 1/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Repeat the layers: remaining ziti, remaining ricotta mixture, and then cover with the remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/4 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Remove from oven and let the baked ziti rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This helps the layers set and makes for easier serving.
⏱️ 10 min