Baked Ziti
User Reviews
5
Baked Ziti
Description
This Baked Ziti recipe assembles cooked ziti pasta with a creamy mixture of ricotta cheese and mozzarella, combined with a seasoned meat sauce made from ground beef and a blend of sweet and hot Italian sausage. The sauce includes diced peppers, onions, garlic, crushed tomatoes, tomato pasta sauce, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Italian herbs, simmered to develop depth and balance.
The casserole is layered with sauce, pasta mixture, and shredded mozzarella, then baked until the cheese is melted and golden. The resulting dish is creamy and rich with tender pasta enveloped in a savory, flavorful meat sauce and cheese blend, featuring a mix of textures from the tender pasta to the melted topping.
This baked pasta is suitable as a filling main course for family dinners or gatherings. The recipe uses a variety of seasonings and cheeses to build complexity without requiring elaborate preparation.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground meat beef, or turkey
- 1 lb Italian sausage I like to mix sweet and hot, ground
- 1 small red pepper diced small
- 1 small green pepper diced small
- 1 small yellow onion diced small
- 8 garlic cloves minced
For the Sauce
- 1 oz pasta sauce any brand we will do! We will hook it up!, from a jar
- 1 oz crushed tomatoes can
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tsps salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsps garlic powder
- 1 tsps onion powder
- 2 tsps Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsps sugar
- 2 tbsps basil chopped
For the Ziti Bake
- 1 box ziti pasta
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- 2 tsps salt
- 1 tsps black pepper
- 2 tsps garlic powder
- 2 tbsps basil chopped
Cheese
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded and divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Cook the ziti pasta according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook Italian sausage and ground beef until browned and cooked through. Add diced onions, peppers, and garlic.
- After browning and cooking the meat, add crushed tomatoes, pasta sauce, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, basil, spices and sugar. Stir everything to combine and let the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes. Taste your sauce. If needed, add additional salt.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of your shredded mozzarella cheese, and spices. Mix well. Spoon 3-4 spoonfuls of meat sauce into the mixture and stir. Your ziti mixture should be creamy and fully coated. Make sure to leave pasta sauce for layering.
- Spoon a thin layer of the meat sauce into the bottom of a 13x9 baking dish.
- Add half of the ziti mixture to the dish on top of the meat sauce. Spread it out evenly. Add a thin layer of cheese on top.
- Spoon another layer of meat sauce on top of the ziti mixture, then sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover the ziti and bake at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Broil at the end uncovered for a golden cheese top finish. Be careful not to burn!
- Remove from the oven and let the ziti cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 503 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 503kcal | 25% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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