Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
For the Ricotta Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For Assembly
- 12 ounces ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375
- 2
In a large skillet or pot, brown the 1 pound of ground beef over medium-high heat. Break up the meat with a spoon as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Add the 1 diced onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet with the browned beef. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Pour in the 24 ounces of marinara sauce. Stir well to combine all ingredients in the pan. Reduce heat to low and let simmer gently while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Cook the 12 ounces of ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
To assemble the baked ziti, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Layer about half of the cooked ziti pasta over the meat sauce. Follow with dollops of half of the ricotta cheese mixture, spreading it gently over the pasta.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Generously sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese, and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese over the ricotta layer.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Repeat the layers: add the remaining meat sauce, then the remaining ziti pasta, followed by the rest of the ricotta mixture. Finish with a final generous layer of the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Colby Jack cheese, and 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Bake the ziti in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is hot throughout.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375
- 12
Once baked, carefully remove from the oven. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set, then scoop and enjoy!
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Baked Ziti
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
For the Ricotta Mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For Assembly
- 12 ounces ziti pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 375 - 2
In a large skillet or pot, brown the 1 pound of ground beef over medium-high heat. Break up the meat with a spoon as it cooks. Once fully browned, drain any excess fat.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Add the 1 diced onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet with the browned beef. Sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Pour in the 24 ounces of marinara sauce. Stir well to combine all ingredients in the pan. Reduce heat to low and let simmer gently while you prepare the other components.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the 15 ounces of ricotta cheese, 4 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Mix thoroughly with a spoon or whisk until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Cook the 12 ounces of ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
To assemble the baked ziti, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Layer about half of the cooked ziti pasta over the meat sauce. Follow with dollops of half of the ricotta cheese mixture, spreading it gently over the pasta.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Generously sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese, and 1/2 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese over the ricotta layer.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Repeat the layers: add the remaining meat sauce, then the remaining ziti pasta, followed by the rest of the ricotta mixture. Finish with a final generous layer of the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of Colby Jack cheese, and 1/2 cup of Cheddar cheese on top.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Bake the ziti in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the sauce is hot throughout.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 375 - 12
Once baked, carefully remove from the oven. Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow it to set, then scoop and enjoy!
⏱️ 5 min