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A serving of cheesy Baked Ziti is lifted from a baking pan, showing the melted cheese and pasta.

Baked Ziti

A classic baked ziti recipe with a rich tomato sauce and creamy ricotta cheese.
Imprimer la recette Pin Recipe
Temps de préparation 20 minutes
Temps de cuisson 30 minutes
Temps total 50 minutes
Portions: 8 people
Type de plat: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingrédients
  

For the Ziti
  • 1 pound Ziti pasta
For the Sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Olive oil
  • 1 pound Ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium Onion chopped
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 28 ounce Can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 6 ounce Can tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper
For the Cheese Mixture
  • 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
  • 1 large Egg beaten
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/4 cup Fresh parsley chopped
For Topping
  • 2 cups Mozzarella cheese shredded

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • 9x13 inch baking dish
  • Colander

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess grease.
  3. Add chopped onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for at least 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley. Mix well.
  6. In the large pot with the sauce, add the cooked ziti and stir to combine. Then, add the ricotta mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly distributed.
  7. Pour the ziti mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are golden brown.
  9. Let the baked ziti rest for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

You can add other vegetables to the sauce, such as mushrooms or bell peppers. For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.

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