Baked Ziti with Ground Beef and Mozzarella (Printable Version)
Classic Italian-American casserole with ziti pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese. Easy to prepare and serves 6.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti pasta
→ Meat
02 - 1 pound ground beef
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
06 - 14 ounces tomato sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
09 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
10 - ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
11 - Salt and black pepper to taste
→ Cheese
12 - 9 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
13 - 4 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated
14 - 9 ounces ricotta cheese
→ Other
15 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
16 - Fresh basil for garnish, optional
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Cook ziti pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until just al dente, approximately 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary.
05 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, half of the meat sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Mix gently to combine.
07 - Spread half of the remaining meat sauce in the prepared baking dish. Add the ziti mixture on top. Spread the rest of the sauce evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
08 - Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese is golden and bubbly.
10 - Let rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- The pasta on top gets those addictive crispy edges while staying perfectly saucy underneath – its like getting two different textures in every scoop.
- You can assemble it entirely the day before, making it your secret weapon for stress-free entertaining when you want to actually enjoy your own dinner party.
02 -
- Dont rinse your pasta after boiling – that starchy water coating helps the sauce cling to each piece of ziti.
- Let the baked ziti rest for a full 10 minutes before serving or youll end up with a soupy mess instead of perfect slices.
03 -
- Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water and add a splash to your final pasta mixture if it seems dry – the starchy liquid helps create a silky texture better than plain water ever could.
- Create a foil sling with handles extending over the sides of your baking dish to easily lift the hot ziti out when serving at a gathering.