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Baked Ziti Recipe

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Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food, combining cheesy pasta, savory meat sauce, and melted mozzarella. It’s an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing dish perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or cozy weekend meals. Customizable with different meats or vegetables, this recipe is a guaranteed hit!

Ingredients

1 lb ziti pasta

1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage)

1 small onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 (28 oz) jar marinara or pasta sauce

1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper, to taste

Optional: chopped parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the Oven: Preheat to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.

  • Cook Pasta: Cook ziti pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain.

  • Cook Meat: In a skillet, brown the ground beef (or sausage) with chopped onion. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.

  • Prepare Ricotta Mixture: In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, and a pinch of salt.

  • Assemble Layers: Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the baking dish. Add half the pasta, followed by half of the ricotta mixture. Repeat the layers.

  • Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.

  • Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden.

  • Rest and Serve: Let the dish rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

Vegetarian: Omit meat and add mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini.

Spicy: Use spicy sausage or add red pepper flakes.

Lighter Version: Swap ricotta with cottage cheese for a lighter option.

Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta.

Find it online: https://chocolatecoveredamy.com/baked-ziti-recipe/