5.0 from 78 votes
Baked Ziti
This baked ziti recipe is layers of pasta with meat sauce and three types of cheese, all cooked together to golden brown perfection. A hearty dinner option that's perfect for feeding a crowd!
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
1 hr 20 mins
Total Time
1 hr 35 mins
Servings: 8
Calories: 699 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
For the ricotta mixture
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
For assembly
- 16 ounces Ziti pasta cooked according to package directions
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.
Cup of Yum
For the sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and sausage to the pan. Season the meat with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook the meat for 3 minutes, breaking it up into small pieces with a spatula. Add the onion to the pan. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until meat is browned and cooked through and onion is tender. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the marinara sauce and tomato sauce to the pan and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes.
For the ricotta
- While the sauce is simmering, stir together the ricotta, egg, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix until thoroughly blended.
For assembly
- Place 1/3 of the sauce in the bottom of the pan. Add 1/2 the pasta on top of the sauce.
- Place dollops of the ricotta cheese mixture over the ziti, along with 1/3 of the sauce.
- Add another layer of ziti pasta, then the remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle 2 cups of mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes or until pasta is bubbly and cheese is melted and browned.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Nutrition Information
Calories
699kcal
(35%)
Carbohydrates
53g
(18%)
Protein
47g
(94%)
Fat
34g
(52%)
Saturated Fat
20g
(100%)
Cholesterol
165mg
(55%)
Sodium
711mg
(30%)
Potassium
943mg
(27%)
Fiber
4g
(16%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
1090IU
(22%)
Vitamin C
10mg
(11%)
Calcium
450mg
(45%)
Iron
4mg
(22%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 699
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 699kcal | 35% |
| Carbohydrates | 53g | 18% |
| Protein | 47g | 94% |
| Fat | 34g | 52% |
| Saturated Fat | 20g | 100% |
| Cholesterol | 165mg | 55% |
| Sodium | 711mg | 30% |
| Potassium | 943mg | 20% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 1090IU | 22% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 450mg | 45% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.