This baked ziti is one of my go-to recipes for dinner or parties. It’s a crowd-pleaser and even picky eaters love it. If your family loves pasta, then this is a perfect recipe to make for kids and guests.
Baked ziti is simple and delicious comfort food that’s perfect for a family dinner or a potluck gathering. It’s very similar to lasagna. It’s made of layered ziti, meat sauce and cheese.
My kids are picky eaters. Baked ziti is one of their favorite pasta dishes.
They get so excited when I tell them we are having ziti for dinner. Of course, any pasta dish would not be complete without bread. I make garlic bread but sometimes my family prefers to have plain Italian bread.
I like Walmart’s Italian bread. But I think bread tastes even better when it’s warm. I cover it with foil and stick it in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 375 degrees F.
This recipe is super easy to make and can be prepared a day or ahead. I love recipes that I can make in advance. I get stressed when we have parties because I get overwhelmed easily. Cooking for a big crowd is not my favorite, lol.
To make it less stressful, I plan the menu ahead of time. I like sandwiches like pulled pork or pasta that I can make a day before the party. I also like cold salads like macaroni or broccoli salad for the side because they are super easy to make.
I love easy-to-make recipes. I mean, who doesn’t right? I am a busy mom. My kids come home from school hungry so I don’t have time to make elaborate dinner, lol.
My friends ask for this baked ziti recipe often, so I figured why not put it on the blog 🙂 I found this recipe from the Allrecipes website. I tweaked the recipe and ingredients to my liking.
I am a recipe tweaker, LOL. Most recipes I tried don’t taste good or the sauce is not enough. I like a simple straight-forward recipes so most of the time, I edit the recipe.
Can I use a different pasta instead of ziti?
Yes. I’ve used penne and it works just as well as ziti. I’d recommend using pasta that is medium-sized.
What kind of pasta sauce should I use for baked ziti?
Any spaghetti or marinara sauce works. I use Ragu but that’s my preference. Some people like Prego over Ragu. My husband loves Victoria sauce but it cost more. I also like Don Pepino’s spaghetti sauce.
What is in the meat sauce?
Spaghetti sauce or marina sauce, ground beef, and onion.
Can I make this recipe a day ahead?
Yes, you can. You have to bake it longer about 15-30 minutes more than the usual baking time. Be sure to check the inside to make sure it’s warm and not cold before serving.
Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. dry baked ziti or penne
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- ½ onion, diced
- 2 (26 oz.) jars spaghetti sauce
- 15 oz ricotta cheese or 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a pot and add diced onions. Saute onion until soft about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until the meat is brown and cooked through. Drain off fat but leave some for moisture.
- Add spaghetti sauce. Stir and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Turn off heat and let it cool.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and ziti. Cook pasta until al dente about 8 minutes. Do not overcook.
- Drain ziti in a strainer and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
- You may add a tbsp of olive oil, so pasta won't stick together.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Pour half of the meat sauce in the bottom of 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Add 1/2 of the ziti over the meat sauce then add ricotta cheese. Spread it out evenly. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top. (See notes for a different process)
- Then add another layer with the rest of the ziti and and meat sauce. Add the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake until bubbling, about 30-35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- In a large bowl, mix together ziti and ricotta cheese.
- Pour half of the meat sauce over the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Add the ziti mixture on top then sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
- To make another layer, add the rest of the ziti mixture and pour the remaining meat sauce over top of the ziti.
- Sprinkle with mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until brown. Enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed this easy and delicious baked ziti recipe. Would you try this recipe at home? Let me know in the comments below.
Jennabel
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