Description
This baked ziti with ground beef and ricotta is a comforting, crowd-pleasing pasta casserole layered with savory beef, creamy ricotta, marinara, and melty cheese. Easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or make-ahead meals, it’s a hearty Italian-inspired dish everyone loves.
Ingredients
- Ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups marinara or pasta sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt (plus more for pasta water)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Optional: red pepper flakes, fresh chopped basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook ziti in salted boiling water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onion until softened, then add garlic. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in marinara sauce, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta with egg, a pinch of salt and pepper, and ¼ cup Parmesan.
- Combine cooked pasta with half the meat sauce and 1 cup mozzarella.
- Spread half the pasta mixture in the baking dish. Add spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture and gently spread.
- Top with remaining pasta and meat sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5–10 minutes more, until cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, if desired.a
Notes
- Swap beef for Italian sausage or ground turkey.
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies.
- Use penne or rigatoni if ziti isn’t available.
- To make ahead: assemble and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
