Hearty Baked Mostaccioli (or Baked Ziti!)
Hearty Baked Mostaccioli (or Baked Ziti!)
Ingredients
- 1 pound mostaccioli or ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 24 ounces marinara sauce, your favorite brand
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon Just Us Meat Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt-Free Garlic & Herb seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder with parsley
- 1 teaspoon olive oil, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the mostaccioli or ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Stir the Just Us Meat Seasoning into the browned ground beef. Cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the seasoned ground beef. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer while you assemble the dish.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the cooked pasta in an even layer. Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture over the pasta.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Evenly dollop half of the ricotta cheese over the meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Repeat the layers: add the remaining pasta, then the remaining meat sauce, followed by the remaining ricotta cheese dollops. Top generously with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 10
Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with Salt-Free Garlic & Herb seasoning and garlic powder with parsley for an extra burst of flavor and color. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Hearty Baked Mostaccioli (or Baked Ziti!)
- 1 pound mostaccioli or ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 24 ounces marinara sauce, your favorite brand
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1 tablespoon Just Us Meat Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Salt-Free Garlic & Herb seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder with parsley
- 1 teaspoon olive oil, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the mostaccioli or ziti pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 15 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Stir the Just Us Meat Seasoning into the browned ground beef. Cook for 1 minute more, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour the marinara sauce into the skillet with the seasoned ground beef. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer while you assemble the dish.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
In the prepared baking dish, spread half of the cooked pasta in an even layer. Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture over the pasta.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Evenly dollop half of the ricotta cheese over the meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Repeat the layers: add the remaining pasta, then the remaining meat sauce, followed by the remaining ricotta cheese dollops. Top generously with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is heated through. For a golden-brown top, you can broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 10
Remove from the oven. Sprinkle with Salt-Free Garlic & Herb seasoning and garlic powder with parsley for an extra burst of flavor and color. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
⏱️ 5 min