Baked Ziti Family Meal Prep
Baked Ziti Family Meal Prep
Ingredients
For the Ziti
- 2 pounds ziti pasta
For the Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef, 85/15 lean
- 1 yellow onion, large, finely chopped
- 6 garlic, cloves, minced
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce each
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
For the Cheese Filling
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- 1
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 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the meat sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and water. Stir in the Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently cook for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 20 min - 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese filling. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish (or two smaller dishes for easier meal prep portioning).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375°F - 7
To assemble the ziti: Spread about 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cooked ziti. Spoon dollops of half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
Pour another 2 cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella layer. Add the remaining half of the ziti, then the remaining ricotta mixture in dollops. Top with the remaining meat sauce, ensuring the pasta is mostly covered.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and an additional 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375°F - 11
Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving or portioning into meal prep containers. This allows the pasta to set and makes for cleaner servings.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Baked Ziti Family Meal Prep
Ingredients
For the Ziti
- 2 pounds ziti pasta
For the Meat Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 pounds ground beef, 85/15 lean
- 1 yellow onion, large, finely chopped
- 6 garlic, cloves, minced
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 cans crushed tomatoes, 28 ounce each
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
For the Cheese Filling
- 32 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for topping
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 4 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- 1
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 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, prepare the meat sauce. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the beef and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
⏱️ 7 min - 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and water. Stir in the Italian seasoning, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently cook for at least 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 20 min - 5
While the sauce simmers, prepare the cheese filling. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish (or two smaller dishes for easier meal prep portioning).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375°F - 7
To assemble the ziti: Spread about 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with half of the cooked ziti. Spoon dollops of half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, then sprinkle with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella.
⏱️ 10 min - 8
Pour another 2 cups of meat sauce over the mozzarella layer. Add the remaining half of the ziti, then the remaining ricotta mixture in dollops. Top with the remaining meat sauce, ensuring the pasta is mostly covered.
⏱️ 5 min - 9
Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and an additional 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and lightly golden brown.
⏱️ 45 min•🌡️ 375°F - 11
Remove from oven and let stand for 10 minutes before serving or portioning into meal prep containers. This allows the pasta to set and makes for cleaner servings.
⏱️ 10 min