5.0 from 234 votes
Best Baked Ziti Ever
This is seriously the Best Baked Ziti Ever. You're going to love the homemade meat sauce and ricotta and cream cheese topping!
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 657 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium white onion diced
- 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 1 (6 ounce can) tomato paste
- 1 (28 ounce can) crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce can) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Baked Ziti
- 1 pound Ziti pasta
- 8 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 8 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Pour olive oil into a large, deep skillet, over medium-high heat. Add in ground beef and brown, 5 minutes. Add in diced onions, and mushrooms (optional). Saute for 5 to 7 minutes until onions are soft and translucent, and ground beef is cooked through.
- Add in garlic and tomato paste and toast for 2 minutes. Pour in crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in basil, oregano, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until pasta is ready.
- Cook pasta in boiling water, according to package directions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Prepare the cheese topping in a small mixing bowl by combining cream cheese, ricotta, and parmesan. Mix together until smooth.
- Once the pasta is done, add it into the meat sauce and stir to combine. Pour it into a lightly greased 9x13 pan. Spread cheese mixture on top of the pasta.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Serve hot.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
657kcal
(33%)
Carbohydrates
67g
(22%)
Protein
32g
(64%)
Fat
30g
(46%)
Saturated Fat
13g
(65%)
Cholesterol
88mg
(29%)
Sodium
1026mg
(43%)
Potassium
1244mg
(36%)
Fiber
6g
(24%)
Sugar
13g
(26%)
Vitamin A
1304IU
(26%)
Vitamin C
20mg
(22%)
Calcium
285mg
(29%)
Iron
6mg
(33%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 657
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 657kcal | 33% |
| Carbohydrates | 67g | 22% |
| Protein | 32g | 64% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Cholesterol | 88mg | 29% |
| Sodium | 1026mg | 43% |
| Potassium | 1244mg | 26% |
| Fiber | 6g | 24% |
| Sugar | 13g | 26% |
| Vitamin A | 1304IU | 26% |
| Vitamin C | 20mg | 22% |
| Calcium | 285mg | 29% |
| Iron | 6mg | 33% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.