Cheesy Baked Ziti with Mini Meatballs
Cheesy Baked Ziti with Mini Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Mini Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, plain
- 1 egg, large
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for searing
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, can
- 6 ounces tomato paste, can
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup water, or chicken broth
For the Ziti and Cheese Layer
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Mini Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, 1 egg, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Roll into 1/2-inch mini meatballs.
⏱️ 15 min
- 2
Sear the Meatballs: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mini meatballs and sear until browned on all sides. They don't need to be cooked through. Remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet (or a large pot), add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, add the seared meatballs, and let it gently simmer while you prepare the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Cook the Ziti: Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Prepare the Cheese Layer: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, fresh parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Assemble the Ziti: Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread about 1 cup of the meatball sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the ziti. Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining ziti, then cover with the rest of the meatball sauce.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375
- 7
Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Rest and Serve: Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cheesy Baked Ziti with Mini Meatballs
Ingredients
For the Mini Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, plain
- 1 egg, large
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for searing
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic, cloves, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, can
- 6 ounces tomato paste, can
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup water, or chicken broth
For the Ziti and Cheese Layer
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese, whole milk
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Mini Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, 1 egg, milk, garlic powder, onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix gently until just combined. Roll into 1/2-inch mini meatballs.
⏱️ 15 min - 2
Sear the Meatballs: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mini meatballs and sear until browned on all sides. They don't need to be cooked through. Remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Make the Sauce: In the same skillet (or a large pot), add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and water. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, add the seared meatballs, and let it gently simmer while you prepare the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Cook the Ziti: Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Prepare the Cheese Layer: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, fresh parsley, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Mix until well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Assemble the Ziti: Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread about 1 cup of the meatball sauce on the bottom of the dish. Add half of the cooked ziti over the sauce. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the ziti. Top with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining ziti, then cover with the rest of the meatball sauce.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 375 - 7
Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake uncovered for another 15 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and lightly golden.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Rest and Serve: Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set.
⏱️ 10 min