Baked Ziti Ground Beef (Printable version)
Hearty ziti layered with ground beef, tomato sauce, herbs, and a blend of cheeses, baked to golden perfection.
# List of ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti pasta
→ Meat
02 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce
05 - 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
06 - 14 ounces tomato sauce
07 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
08 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
11 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - 1 teaspoon sugar
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Dairy
14 - 9 ounces ricotta cheese
15 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
16 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
17 - 1 large egg
→ Others
18 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
19 - Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Boil salted water in a large pot. Cook ziti until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet. Brown thoroughly, breaking up meat until no pink remains. Drain excess fat.
05 - Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes if using, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, egg, half the mozzarella (1 cup), and half the Parmesan cheese. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth.
07 - Add cooked ziti to meat sauce and toss to coat evenly.
08 - Spread half the pasta mixture in the baking dish. Layer half the ricotta mixture on top. Repeat with remaining pasta and ricotta mixtures.
09 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the assembled layers.
10 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until cheese is melted and golden. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
11 - Top with fresh basil or parsley if desired and serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- One-dish comfort that feeds a crowd without hours of fussing
- The kind of homey Italian-American classic that tastes like someone spent all day on it, but you didn't
02 -
- Cook the pasta slightly underdone—this is the key to avoiding mushy results when everything bakes together
- Don't skip draining the excess fat from the beef; it keeps the dish from becoming greasy instead of rich
- Taste and adjust your sauce before assembly; this is your only real chance to get the seasoning right
03 -
- Use an 80/20 ground beef blend—the fat content keeps everything moist and prevents the dish from drying out
- Season your pasta water generously; it's the only chance to flavor the pasta itself
- Don't be tempted to skip the resting time after baking—those 10 minutes make the difference between a perfect slice and a messy serving