Description
A classic Italian-American comfort food, this Baked Ziti with Mozzarella recipe is a rich and cheesy casserole perfect for family dinners or gatherings. Layers of ziti pasta, savory meat sauce, and creamy mozzarella bake to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef or sausage over medium heat. Drain off any excess fat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in oregano and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large baking dish (9×13 inch), spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom. Layer half of the cooked ziti over the sauce.
- Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the ziti. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella cheese. Top with the remaining meat sauce.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is lightly golden.
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add sautéed mushrooms and zucchini to the sauce.
- You can prepare this casserole a day in advance and bake it when ready.
- Adjust seasonings to your preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: baked ziti, mozzarella, pasta bake, Italian casserole, comfort food, cheesy pasta, ground beef recipe, family dinner, weeknight meal