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4.4 from 162 votes

Baked Ziti - Ziti al Forno

This baked ziti (ziti al forno) recipe is a delicious way to cook and enjoy pasta.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 716 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American Fussion

Ingredients

  • 1/4 /4 cup olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 medium white onion chopped
  • 1/2 /2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 /4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1/2 /2 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 /2 pound ground Italian sausage sweet or spicy
  • 2 T tomato paste
  • 28 oz San Marzano Tomatoes whole and peeled
  • 16 oz whole milk ricotta
  • 1/2 /2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 /2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano grated. Plus extra for topping
  • 1 pound Ziti pasta cooked
  • 1/2 /2 pound fresh mozzarella grated
  • 1/4 /4 pound mozzarella sliced

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Begin by making the marinara sauce: In a large sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat and add the chopped onion. Cook until the onion is translucent then add the garlic to the pan. Cook for a minute then add the ground beef and ground sausage. Stir the meat and break it up into small pieces using your spoon or spatula.
  2. Once the meat has browned, add the tomato paste and canned tomatoes to the sauce pan. Stir to combine. Add the salt, pepper and dried basil then lower the heat and cook the sauce for 15-20 minutes. Stir occasionally. Set aside once cooked
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, heavy cream, Parmigiano-Reggiano and grated mozzarella.
  4. Place about 1/4 cup of the marinara in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish. Place 1/3 of the cooked ziti in the dish and top with 1/3 of the sauce and 1/3 of the cheese mix. Repeat this layering process until all of the ingredients are layered into the casserole pan. 
  5. Top the ziti with the remaining mozzarella slices and sprinkle with extra Parmigiano-Reggiano.
  6. Bake in a 450 degree F oven for about 30 to 40 minutes or until the cheese on top is melted and browning and the sauce around the edge of the pan is bubbling. Enjoy immediately or freeze!

Nutrition Information

Serving 130g Calories 716kcal (36%) Carbohydrates 52g (17%) Protein 35g (70%) Fat 40g (62%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Cholesterol 128mg (43%) Sodium 1035mg (43%) Potassium 636mg (18%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 1000IU (20%) Vitamin C 12.1mg (13%) Calcium 480mg (48%) Iron 3.3mg (18%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 716

% Daily Value*

Serving 130g
Calories 716kcal 36%
Carbohydrates 52g 17%
Protein 35g 70%
Fat 40g 62%
Saturated Fat 20g 100%
Cholesterol 128mg 43%
Sodium 1035mg 43%
Potassium 636mg 14%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 1000IU 20%
Vitamin C 12.1mg 13%
Calcium 480mg 48%
Iron 3.3mg 18%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.