Description
This classic Baked Ziti recipe combines a rich, meaty tomato sauce with tender pasta, creamy ricotta, and gooey melted mozzarella cheese. Easy to prepare and perfect for family dinners, it features Italian sausage and ground beef simmered with garlic, onions, and herbs, layered with cheese-coated pasta, and baked until bubbling and golden.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat Sauce
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 whole large onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes, with juice
- 2 (14.5-oz.) cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Cheese Mixture
- 16 oz. ziti or mostaccioli, cooked until not quite al dente
- 15 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese, grated and divided
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: Heat olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until softened. Add Italian sausage and ground beef, cooking until browned. Drain excess fat, keeping some for flavor and moisture. Stir in whole tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer the sauce for 25-30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of sauce to a bowl and allow to cool.
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 375°F (190°C) to warm while you prepare the pasta and cheese mixture.
- Make the Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 2 cups of grated mozzarella, grated parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir gently just a couple of times to keep some texture.
- Prepare the Pasta: Drain the cooked ziti or mostaccioli, rinse under cool water to halt cooking and cool it down. Add pasta to the cheese mixture and toss lightly so the cheese coats the pasta but leaves lumps.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooled meat sauce to the cheese-coated pasta and toss gently until combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: In a large casserole dish, spread half of the pasta mixture. Spoon half of the reserved sauce on top, then sprinkle with half of the remaining grated mozzarella. Repeat layering with the rest of the pasta, sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the dish is bubbling.
- Serve: Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the top before serving.
Notes
- Ree Drummond’s baked ziti is the family dinner of your dreams, combining meat sauce, pasta, and plenty of cheese.
- This dish is similar to lasagna but is easier to assemble and bakes faster.
- To prevent the pasta from overcooking while mixing, cook it until just under al dente and rinse with cold water.
- Using a mix of Italian sausage and ground beef offers a flavorful and hearty sauce.
- Layering the cheese and sauce ensures every bite is rich and creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 667
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 1164 mg
- Fat: 39 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 138 mg
