Learn how to make the best Baked Ziti Pasta and impress all your guests with a restaurant-worthy recipe! Saucy, cheesy, and full of protein, it’s the ultimate comfort food meal.
Love pasta dishes? Try our Chicken Fajita Pasta and Cajun Pasta with Sausage, too.
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This Easy Baked Ziti is a Crowd Pleaser!
This recipe for baked ziti has been my go-to dish for feeding a crowd for years, and it’s always a huge hit! One batch makes enough to feed up to ten people, and it pairs easily with a variety of salads, such as chopped wedge salad, avocado Caesar salad, or antipasto salad.
It may taste like it took all day, but it’s actually quite easy to make. In fact, from start to finish, it’s ready to eat in about an hour.
I also like to make an extra batch to store in the fridge or freezer for later. It’s a game-changer on busy days. Serve this baked ziti for everything from weeknight dinners and holiday parties, and you really can’t go wrong. I guarantee all your guest will clean their plates!
What is Baked Ziti?
As you might guess from the name, baked ziti is a popular Italian-American baked pasta dish that typically consists of ziti pasta, tomato sauce, and cheese. The ingredients are layered similarly to lasagna. However, they are prepared separately before being combined and finished in the oven.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Baked Ziti
- Picky eater approved: This is one dish that always has the whole family eager to dig in. After all, who can say no to pasta, cheese, and beef?
- Great for meal prep: One batch makes enough to serve up to 10 people, and leftovers store and reheat well for quick meals.
- Versatile: You can easily mix and match different ingredients to suit your flavor preferences and dietary needs.
Baked Ziti Pasta Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Pasta: Of course, ziti pasta is what’s typically used, but you can substitute penne or rigatoni if needed.
- Ground Beef: I recommend using 85% or leaner, or you can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
- Aromatics: Onion and garlic add a savory, pungent, slightly sweet taste.
- Herbs and Spices: Dried oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and fresh basil create a savory flavor with just a touch of heat.
- Marinara Sauce: Store-bought sauce is fine, or try making our Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce for a delicious twist.
- Cheese: Ricotta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese take this dish to a whole new level of deliciousness.
- Heavy Cream: Enhances the rich flavor and creamy consistency of the sauce.
- Lemon Zest: It breaks through the richness of the dish.
How to Make Baked Ziti
Check out the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Step 1: Cook the ziti pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Then, drain the water, and set the pasta aside.
Step 2: Brown the beef over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the chopped onion, and cook until it softens. Next, add the minced garlic and spices, and continue to cook until fragrant.
Step 3: Stir in the marinara sauce, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Then, reduce the heat, and let the mixture simmer partially covered, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and basil.
Step 5: Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish, and add half of the cooked ziti over the pasta sauce.
Step 6: Then, pour the ricotta cheese mixture over the pasta, spreading it out evenly.
Step 7: Sprinkle half the mozzarella over the ricotta layer, and repeat the process, layering the ingredients.
Step 8: Top the dish with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is lightly browned.
How to Store Baked Ziti With Meat
Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To keep them fresh, wrap the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Or, transfer it to an airtight container.
Reheat leftovers in the microwave or oven at 350 degrees. If your ziti begins to brown to quickly in the oven, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and continue to bake until your desired temperature is achieved.
Freeze This Easy Baked Ziti!
Freeze baked ziti for up to 3 months. To do so, let it cool completely. Then, cover it with plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil, or transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Reheat it from frozen in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes or until warmed through.
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe FAQs
Yes, you’ll need to cover ziti during the first part of baking to prevent the cheese from drying out. Then, remove the foil at the very end to achieve a golden brown topping.
The primary difference is the shape of the noodles. Baked ziti recipes use ziti pasta, and lasagna recipes use lasagna pasta sheets. Baked ziti also has fewer layers than pasta, making it quicker to assemble and faster to bake.
Make sure to use enough sauce to coat the bottom of the dish. Then, cover the noodles completely with the cheese mixture. Next, cover the baking dish loosely, and don’t forget to remove it partway through baking! Finally, make sure to allow the dish to rest before serving. This helps the pasta absorb some of the moisture from the sauce, preventing the ziti from becoming dry.
If you try baked ziti with meat, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.
Description
Learn how to make the best Baked Ziti Pasta and impress all your guests with a restaurant-worthy recipe! Saucy, cheesy, and full of protein, it’s the ultimate comfort food meal.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large deep skillet or saute pan, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add the onion and cook until softened about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and all spices, and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the marinara sauce. Reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, lemon zest, and basil. Mix well.
- To assemble, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a deep 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half of the cooked pasta over the sauce. Pour the mixture of the ricotta cheese and cream over the pasta and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle half of the mozzarella cheese over the ricotta layer. Repeat with another layer of the remaining ziti pasta, followed by the remaining meat sauce, and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the top is lightly browned. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra basil if desired.
Notes
- Pasta: Feel free to substitute penne or rigatoni if needed.
- Beef: I like using 85% or leaner beef. You can also substitute ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
- Baking Dish: For best results, use a deep 9×13 baking dish to ensure there’s plenty of room for all the pasta, sauce, and cheese without any bubbling over in the oven.
- Leftovers: To store leftover baked ziti, let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, cover and warm in a 350°F oven until heated through, or microwave individual portions in a microwave-safe dish, adding a splash of water, cream, or sauce to keep it moist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 463
- Sugar: 8.3 g
- Sodium: 927 mg
- Fat: 15.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 47.2 g
- Protein: 33.3 g
- Cholesterol: 74.7 mg
