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A steaming dish of baked ziti pasta dinner, rich with cheese and sauce.

Classic Baked Ziti Pasta Dinner

This classic baked ziti recipe features tender ziti pasta baked with a rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and generous layers of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Perfect for a comforting family dinner.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 450 kcal

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Dutch oven
  • large pot
  • medium bowl
  • 9x13-inch baking dish

Ingredients
  

Ziti pasta

  • 1 pound box Ziti Pasta

Meat Sauce

  • 1 pound Ground Meat beef, Italian sausage, or a mix
  • Two 24 ounce jars Marinara Sauce
  • 2-3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 small Onion finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper

Cheese Mixture

  • 15 ounces Ricotta Cheese
  • 4 cups Mozzarella Cheese shredded, divided
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese grated, plus more for serving
  • 1 Egg large
  • 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley chopped, plus extra for garnish

Instructions
 

Prep the Meat Sauce

  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven, then add chopped onion and cook until softened.
  • Stir in minced garlic, then add ground meat and cook until browned, draining excess fat.
  • Pour in marinara sauce, season with salt and pepper, and simmer gently.

Cook the Ziti

  • Boil salted water and cook ziti pasta until al dente according to package directions.
  • Drain the pasta well and set it aside.

Prepare the Ricotta Mixture

  • In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped fresh parsley.
  • Season with salt and pepper and mix until well combined.

Assemble the Ziti

  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
  • Spread a thin layer of meat sauce on the bottom, then layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce.
  • Dollop ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta, then top with 1.5 cups of shredded mozzarella.
  • Pour half of the remaining meat sauce over the cheese; repeat layers with remaining ziti, meat sauce, and mozzarella.

Bake to Perfection

  • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes; remove foil and bake for another 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbly.
  • Let the ziti rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Notes

For extra flavor, use a combination of ground beef and Italian sausage for the meat sauce. You can also assemble this dish ahead of time and refrigerate it. Just add an extra 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time if baking from cold.