Baked Ziti with Ground Beef (Printable)
Tender ziti layered with savory beef and marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan cheeses.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti pasta
→ Meat
02 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
→ Sauce
03 - 24 oz marinara sauce (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Cheese
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/2 tsp salt (plus more for pasta water)
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain well and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Stir in marinara sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 5 minutes to blend flavors.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, meat sauce, half the mozzarella cheese, and all the ricotta cheese. Mix gently until evenly coated.
07 - Transfer half the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the remaining mozzarella and half the Parmesan. Layer the rest of the pasta on top, then finish with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
08 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes to heat through.
09 - Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly around the edges.
10 - Allow baked ziti to rest for 10 minutes before serving. This helps the cheese set and makes serving easier.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The ricotta creates these creamy pockets throughout the dish that make every bite feel like a special discovery
- This is one of those rare meals that tastes even better as leftovers, making next days lunch something to genuinely anticipate
02 -
- Do not skip the resting period or the cheese will slide right off when you try to serve it
- Undercook the pasta by 2 minutes since it absorbs sauce and finishes cooking in the oven
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients mix more evenly and prevent the ricotta from seizing up
- Use the back of your spoon to create shallow troughs in the sauce before layering—helps everything distribute evenly