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Jump to RecipeBaked ziti is the perfect comfort food with tomato meat sauce with cooked ziti pasta, and two kinds of cheese. It will remind you of lasagna but without the stress of making all the layers. Serve with a fresh salad and garlic bread, and a warm, comforting dinner is on the table.
It’s easy to cut this recipe in half. However, I always make the full recipe because this dish only gets better the next day. It is the perfect make-ahead meal. It reheats and freezes well. I cook my ground meat in a 3-quart microwave-safe baking dish that goes from microwave to oven to table. This is one of those fool-proof, forgiving recipes. None of the ingredients need to be exact. Measurements and ingredients are flexible. Substitute any pasta type or ground meat variation (ground beef, pork, sausage, or turkey). I almost always add onion and minced garlic. I’ve also added sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, hot peppers, and even sliced green olives. A little salt and pepper work fine for seasoning. If you like a little zing, add a shake or two of chili powder or cayenne pepper. Use your favorite pasta sauce (marinara, pink/vodka, mushroom — all will work.) The shredded cheese can also be switched out. While mozzarella is traditional, I’ve made it with all sorts of different shredded cheeses, depending on what I had in the fridge. It’s always good. To zhoosh up, add 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg to generic pasta sauce for a homemade taste. For a finished look, top off the dish with a dusting of ground oregano prior to baking.
Speedy Baked Ziti
Cuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy8
servings15
minutes35
minutesBaked ziti is the perfect comfort food with tomato meat sauce with cooked ziti pasta, and two kinds of cheese.
Ingredients
1 lb Ziti (or penne, rigatoni)
1 lb ground beef
15 oz container ricotta (whole milk or low fat)
1 jar of pasta/spaghetti sauce (28 oz)
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt & pepper to taste
Optional: 1 medium chopped onion
Optional: 1-2 gloves crushed or chopped garlic
Optional: 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (stir into pasta sauce)
Optional: ground oregano
Directions
- Cook pasta as directed on package. Drain
- Thoroughly cook ground meat (with onion & garlic, if desired) in a large bowl or 3-quart glass casserole or baking dish in the microwave. Drain off fat. Ground meat can also be cooked in a skillet, drained, and transferred to a casserole dish
- Add cooked macaroni and ricotta to cooked ground meat. Combine well until ricotta is melted and evenly distributed.
- Stir in pasta/spaghetti sauce and 2½ cups of shredded Mozzarella cheese (save ½ cup of mozzarella for the topping). Mix until well combined.
- Season with Salt & Pepper, to taste
- Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella, if desired top with a dusting of ground oregano
- Bake at 350 (F) for 25-30 minutes until topping is lightly browned
Notes
- It’s easy to cut this recipe in half. However, I always make the full recipe because this dish only gets better the next day. It is the perfect make-ahead meal. It reheats and freezes well.
- Substitute any pasta type or ground meat variation (ground beef, pork, sausage, or turkey). I almost always add onion and minced garlic. I’ve also added sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, hot peppers, and even sliced green olives.
- Use your favorite pasta sauce (marinara, pink/vodka, mushroom — all will work.)
- To zhoosh up, add 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg to generic pasta sauce for a homemade taste. For a finished look, top off the dish with a dusting of ground oregano prior to baking.
Recommended Equipment and Tools
I’m a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for Associates to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may make a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for shopping and I hope you love these products as much as I do.
This oven-to-table-to fridge-microwave dish, doesn’t compromise on style or safety. The clear glass dish makes a nice, attractive presentation, and won’t shatter from the temperature change.
Heavy duty small cooling rack with strong wire grid, small holes, smooth no-snag edges, and a full 1 inch height resulting in greater all around airflow for even cooling. Stainless steel.
Protect your hands and wrists from burns! Professional silicone oven mitt with quilted liner. Heat resistant. Easy to clean and machine washable
Trying this tonight! Sounds delicious and I think even I can make it.