Easy Baked Ziti
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
45 mins
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Servings
8 servings
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Calories
760 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Easy Baked Ziti
Description
Easy Baked Ziti is a baked pasta casserole featuring tube-shaped pasta like ziti or penne, combined with a flavorful meat sauce. The sauce incorporates ground beef and bacon cooked with onion, then simmered with marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, and seasonings such as garlic powder and celery seed. This hearty mixture is blended with mozzarella cheese before being transferred to a baking dish. The casserole is topped with additional mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese for a golden, cheesy crust after baking.
The combination of meats and two types of cheese results in a moist and savory casserole with textured bites from the pasta and melted cheese. The bacon adds a smoky element while the diced tomatoes provide acidity to balance the richness.
Serve this dish as a main course for dinner, paired with a simple green salad or steamed vegetables. It stores well in the refrigerator for up to three days and can be frozen either before or after baking, making it a convenient meal for busy households. To reheat from frozen, thaw overnight and bake at 350°F until warmed through.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta or other tube-shaped pasta such as penne
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion chopped (about 1/2 cup, small
- 4 ounces Bacon about 1/2 cup or 4 slices, raw, diced
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes with their juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper ground
- 12 ounces mozzarella cheese about 3 cups), divided use, fresh, shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place a large pot of well-salted water on to boil. Cook the ziti according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- While the ziti cooks, make the meat sauce. In a large skillet, add the olive oil, onion, and bacon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon is cooked and the onion is translucent.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook until no pink color remains in the ground beef. Drain any excess grease from the pan if needed.
- Add the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic powder, celery seed, salt, and ground black pepper stirring well. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the meat sauce from the heat and add the drained pasta and 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese. Stir together until evenly combined.
- Pour the mixture into an ovenproof baking dish or pan. Top with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and the grated Parmesan.
- Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the dish from the oven and let it sit for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute all or part of the ground beef and bacon with sausage or ground turkey to vary the flavor.
- Leftovers should be stored tightly covered in the refrigerator and consumed within three days for best quality.
- This casserole freezes well both before and after baking; wrap tightly with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil before freezing.
- When cooking from frozen, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake at 350°F for approximately 35 to 40 minutes until heated through.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 760 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1portion | |
| Calories | 760kcal | 38% |
| Carbohydrates | 52g | 17% |
| Protein | 35g | 70% |
| Fat | 45g | 69% |
| Saturated Fat | 19g | 95% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 113mg | 38% |
| Sodium | 1158mg | 48% |
| Potassium | 779mg | 17% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 771IU | 15% |
| Vitamin C | 12mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 334mg | 33% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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