Baked Ziti
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
45 mins
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Total Time
1 hr
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Servings
12
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Calories
453 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian
Baked Ziti
Description
This Baked Ziti features a meat sauce made by sautéing ground beef, Italian sausage, and bacon alongside chopped onions and mushrooms, seasoned with Italian herbs and red pepper flakes. Cooked ziti pasta is combined with olive oil, beaten eggs, Parmesan cheese, and ricotta for a creamy, binding filling. The pasta sauce is thinned with reserved pasta water to coat the pasta evenly.
The dish is assembled by layering the pasta mixture and sauce in a casserole and topped with shredded Italian blend cheese before baking. The baking process melds the meats and cheeses, producing a cohesive casserole with a tender pasta interior and a lightly browned, cheesy crust on top.
This baked dish serves as a comforting meal suited for family dinners or gatherings. It pairs well with a fresh salad or garlic bread. The recipe’s seasoning level can be adjusted by modulating the red pepper flakes.
Ingredients
- 12 ounces ziti pasta
- 1/2 pound ground beef chuck
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1 ounce Bacon chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1 cup onion chopped
- 4 ounces mushroom sliced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes add more if you like it spicy
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 egg
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 14 ounces pasta sauce
- 1 cup pasta water
- 1 pound ricotta cheese
- 3 cups italian blend cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Sauté the ground beef, Italian sausage, and bacon in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Season the meat with salt and pepper.
- While the meat is cooking, chop onion and mushrooms and add them to the pan.
- Add Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes to the pan. Stir to combine.
- When the meat has cooked thoroughly, remove it from the pan, and drain excess grease if necessary.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
- Add the ziti to the boiling water and cook it according to package directions.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta water for the casserole once the pasta has finished cooking.
- Drain the pasta.
- Place cooked ziti into a large bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 2 beaten eggs, and 1 cup of Parmesan cheese to the ziti. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Place pasta sauce into a separate large bowl with the 1 cup of reserved pasta water. Stir to combine to create a thin sauce.
- Ladle just enough sauce to cover the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
- Add half of the cooked ziti to the dish.
- Spoon ricotta cheese on top of the ziti. The dollops will melt while cooking.
- Spoon half of the meat mixture over the ricotta cheese.
- Sprinkle half of the shredded Italian blend cheese on top of the meat mixture.
- Pour just enough sauce in the dish to cover the meat.
- Place the remaining pasta on top.
- Place the remaining meat on the pasta.
- Sprinkle the remaining Italian cheese on top.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes, until heated through and the cheese on the top is melted and lightly browned.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 453 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 453kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 27g | 9% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 27g | 42% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 87mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 669mg | 28% |
| Potassium | 388mg | 8% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 425IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 3.9mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 264mg | 26% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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