Best-Ever Baked Ziti
User Reviews
5.0
39 reviews
Excellent
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Prep Time
45 mins
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Cook Time
1 hr
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Additional Time
35 mins
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Total Time
2 hrs 20 mins
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Servings
8
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Calories
624 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Italian, Italian-American Fussion
Best-Ever Baked Ziti
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This Best-Ever Baked Ziti recipe really is the best ever. Go with quality ingredients and be sure to make the marinara from scratch, and you won't believe the results. This meat sauce can be made a day in advance and kept in the fridge or freeze up to 2 weeks. The dish can also be made a day in advance and kept in the fridge or freeze for up to 2 weeks. Just let thaw before baking. This is one to serve to people you really love and want to make them happy.
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Ingredients
Make Ahead
- fresh marinara sauce or quality store-bought
For the Meat Sauce
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped (about ½ cup)
- 2 talks celery chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 medium carrot peeled and chopped (about ½ cup)
- ½ lb sweet Italian sausage casings removed, if links
- ½ lb hot Italian sausage casings removed, if links
- 1 lb ground beef 85% lean
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup red wine
- 5 cups fresh marinara sauce click for recipe
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
For the Baked Ziti
- 16 oz ziti dried, or rigatoni
- 16 oz ricotta cheese whole milk
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- 2 tablespoon Italian parsley chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Do Ahead
- Prepare the marinara sauce (see link to recipe in Ingredients List)
Make the Meat Sauce
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, and carrot and cook until soft, about 7 - 10 minutes.
- Crumble the sausage with your hands into the pot and then add the beef. Cook until almost no longer pink.
- Season with 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
- At this point, if too much grease has been rendered, tilt the skillet and use a spoon to remove excess fat. Discard safely. Leave a little in the pan for added flavor.
- Add the wine and cook until the liquid is almost all gone, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the prepared marinara and tomato paste and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
Assemble and Bake the Dish
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti according to package instructions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a lasagna pan (or a deep casserole dish), ladle a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of the dish, about 2 cups.
- Add a layer of cooked ziti, a little more than a third of the pasta.
- Top with dollops of half of the ricotta and then 1 cup of the mozzarella.
- Sprinkle about ¼ cup of Parmesan on top of that.
- Repeat this process again. (You'll want to leave a handful of the cooked pasta and then several cups of the sauce for the topping of the dish).
- Top with a handful of pasta, then another layer of the sauce, 1 cup of mozzarella, and another ¼ cup of Parmesan on top.
- Baked, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes, until lightly browned on top and bubbly.
- Garnish with chopped parsley. Let rest for about 5 minutes, and then serve with additional grated Parmesan on the side.
Notes
- See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
- subscribe to our YouTube channel
- The marinara sauce can be made several days in advance or frozen for up to 2 months (thaw completely before using). The meat sauce can be prepared up to 3 days before assembling the ziti.
- The dish can be assembled and then refrigerated (covered) for several days. If chilled, you will need to add another 15 to 20 minutes of baking. Cover with foil if getting too brown on top.
- Leftovers are fantastic and we keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can freeze leftover baked ziti, but the cheese will lose its creamy texture. We don't recommend freezing once baked.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
624kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
49g
(16%)
Protein
42g
(84%)
Fat
31g
(48%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
8g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
132mg
(44%)
Sodium
822mg
(34%)
Potassium
610mg
(17%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
2129IU
(43%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
519mg
(52%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 624 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 624kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 49g | 16% |
| Protein | 42g | 84% |
| Fat | 31g | 48% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 132mg | 44% |
| Sodium | 822mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 610mg | 13% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 2129IU | 43% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 519mg | 52% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
39 reviews
Excellent
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