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This classic baked ziti is noodles, lots of cheese, and a hearty meat sauce combination. A family favorite recipe that’s perfect for feeding a crowd!

Enjoy this with a vegetable salad and cheesy garlic bread for a complete dinner meal.

This baked ziti is loved by both kids and adults. It’s pasta, sauce, and cheese, how can anyone not love it? It’s so easy to make and it makes great leftovers!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a super versatile recipe. Not a fan of ricotta cheese? Use cottage cheese instead. Not a fan of ground beef? Use Italian sausage or ground turkey. You get the point!
• Super comforting.
• It’s very cheesy and garlicky.
• Packed with flavor.

Ingredient Notes

• Pasta – Ziti pasta is what’s used for traditional baked ziti but penne or rigatoni pasta works too. Make sure to undercook it by 1-2 minutes because it will continue cooking in the oven.
• Marinara Sauce – I used homemade sauce because it’s so easy to put together and much more economical but feel free to use store-bought sauce.
• Diced Tomatoes – Canned tomatoes work best for this recipe just make sure you don’t drain them!
• Ground Beef – Any type of ground meat will work. I used 90/10 ground beef for a leaner meat sauce. If you like your sauce a little greasier, use 80/20 ground beef.
• Garlic – Use fresh garlic for best results.
• Red Pepper Flakes – Adds a bit of heat.
• Mozzarella Cheese – I used both shredded and fresh mozzarella cheese. If you like it extra cheesy make sure to use fresh mozzarella.
• Ricotta Cheese – Adds a creamy texture. Use full-fat ricotta cheese for best results.
• Egg – It helps to bind the ricotta cheese so that it doesn’t ooze out of the casserole when cut.
• Parmesan Cheese – Freshly grated parm works best.
• Basil – Adds so much flavor but it’s completely optional. If you’re not a fan of fresh basil, simply omit it.

How To Make Classic Baked Ziti

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Add the ground beef to a large pot and brown completely. Season the beef with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and red pepper flakes. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Once the 15 minutes are up, check for seasoning and reserve 2 cups of sauce.
4. While the meat sauce simmers, cook the ziti pasta in boiling salted water.
5. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, egg, parsley, basil, and garlic. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Set it aside.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the meat sauce and mix well. Add 1/2 of the pasta to a 9×13 baking dish. Place dollops of the ricotta mixture over the ziti along with fresh mozzarella cheese.
7. Pour the 2 cups of meat sauce over the ziti. Add the remaining layer of ziti pasta along with the remaining ricotta cheese mixture. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese over the top.
8. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired, and enjoy!

Top Tips

• The meat sauce can be made ahead of time, it will also taste a lot better. You may also assemble it hours in advance. Just make sure to cover it and refrigerate it until you’re ready to place it in the oven.
• Although I didn’t include any wine in this recipe, feel free to add 1/2 cup of red wine to the meat sauce while it cooks.
• Want to include some veggies? Add some fresh chopped spinach to the ricotta mixture. You can also add carrots and mushrooms to the meat sauce.
• Spray the aluminum foil with nonstick spray so it doesn’t stick to the cheese while it bakes.
• If you don’t want the ziti to fall apart and become too tender, make sure to undercook it. If the package recommends cooking the pasta for 10 minutes for “al dente”, cook it for 8-9 minutes.

Storage

Have leftovers? Place them in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. If you want to freeze it, I highly recommend freezing leftovers in individual portions. That way you don’t have to defrost the entire pan for just a small serving. To reheat, simply pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

More Pasta Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Skillet Lasagna
• Cherry Tomato Pasta
• Penne Alla Vodka
• Creamy Shrimp Alfredo

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