This easy baked ziti recipe is a comforting and delicious dish perfect for any weeknight dinner. Combining ziti pasta, ground beef, and a blend of cheeses, it creates a hearty meal that the whole family will love. The layers of marinara sauce and melted mozzarella make it irresistible.
If you're heading to the supermarket, make sure to pick up ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese. These cheeses might not be staples in every household but are essential for achieving the creamy, cheesy layers in this baked ziti. Additionally, ensure you have dried basil and dried oregano for that perfect Italian flavor.
Ingredients for Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Ziti pasta: A type of tube-shaped pasta that holds the sauce well.
Marinara sauce: A tomato-based sauce that adds rich flavor to the dish.
Ricotta cheese: A creamy cheese that adds a smooth texture to the pasta layers.
Mozzarella cheese: A mild, stretchy cheese that melts beautifully on top.
Parmesan cheese: A hard, salty cheese that adds a sharp flavor.
Ground beef: Provides a hearty, meaty base for the sauce.
Minced garlic: Adds a fragrant, savory note to the meat sauce.
Dried basil: An herb that brings a sweet, aromatic flavor.
Dried oregano: An herb that adds a slightly bitter, earthy taste.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Pepper: Adds a bit of heat and depth to the flavors.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When browning the ground beef, make sure to break it up into small pieces using a wooden spoon or spatula. This ensures even cooking and allows the meat sauce to blend more smoothly with the pasta mixture. Additionally, for a richer flavor, consider deglazing the pot with a splash of red wine after browning the beef and before adding the marinara sauce. This will lift any caramelized bits from the bottom of the pot, adding depth to your baked ziti.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
ziti pasta - Substitute with penne pasta: Penne has a similar shape and texture, making it a great alternative for holding the sauce and cheese.
marinara sauce - Substitute with tomato basil sauce: Tomato basil sauce offers a similar tomato base with added basil flavor, enhancing the dish.
ricotta cheese - Substitute with cottage cheese: Cottage cheese provides a similar creamy texture and mild flavor, making it a suitable replacement.
shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone melts well and has a slightly sharper flavor, adding depth to the dish.
grated parmesan cheese - Substitute with pecorino romano cheese: Pecorino Romano has a similar hard texture and salty flavor, making it a good alternative.
ground beef - Substitute with ground turkey: Ground turkey is a leaner option that still provides a similar texture and flavor when seasoned well.
minced garlic - Substitute with garlic powder: Garlic powder can be used in place of fresh garlic, offering a similar flavor profile.
dried basil - Substitute with fresh basil: Fresh basil can be used for a more vibrant and aromatic flavor, though you may need to use more than the dried version.
dried oregano - Substitute with Italian seasoning: Italian seasoning contains oregano along with other herbs, providing a similar flavor with added complexity.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used in place of regular salt, offering a slightly different mineral content and flavor.
pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper can be used as an alternative, providing a similar heat without altering the color of the dish.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store or Freeze This Dish
- Allow the baked ziti to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
- Transfer the baked ziti to an airtight container. If you don't have one large enough, you can use multiple smaller containers.
- For short-term storage, place the container in the refrigerator. The baked ziti will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- If you plan to store the baked ziti for a longer period, consider freezing it. Wrap the container tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap before placing it in the freezer.
- To freeze individual portions, divide the baked ziti into single-serving sizes and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped portions in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Label the container or bag with the date to keep track of its freshness. The baked ziti can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- When ready to reheat, if the baked ziti is frozen, transfer it to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
- For reheating, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the baked ziti in an oven-safe dish and cover it with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
- Bake the baked ziti for about 20-25 minutes or until heated through. If reheating from frozen, it may take an additional 10-15 minutes.
- For a quicker reheating option, you can use the microwave. Place a portion of the baked ziti in a microwave-safe dish, cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, and heat on medium power for 3-5 minutes, stirring halfway through.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Transfer the leftover baked ziti to an oven-safe dish. If it's already in one, you're good to go.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the cheese from drying out.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the pasta is heated through and the cheese is bubbly.
- For an extra crispy top, remove the foil for the last 5 minutes of baking.
Microwave Method:
- Place a portion of the baked ziti on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to trap steam and keep the pasta moist.
- Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes. Stir halfway through to ensure even heating.
- If it's not hot enough, continue to heat in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
Stovetop Method:
- Place the leftover baked ziti in a large skillet or saucepan.
- Add a splash of water or broth to prevent sticking and to help rehydrate the pasta.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and heat over medium-low heat.
- Stir occasionally until the pasta is heated through, about 10-15 minutes.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place a portion of the baked ziti in an air fryer-safe dish.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure it doesn't dry out.
- If needed, add a small amount of marinara sauce or cheese on top to keep it moist and flavorful.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the ziti at the specified temperature until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Large pot: Used to cook the ground beef and later simmer the meat sauce with marinara, garlic, basil, and oregano.
Large bowl: Used to mix the cooked ziti pasta with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Baking dish: Used to layer the pasta mixture and meat sauce before baking.
Colander: Used to drain the cooked ziti pasta after boiling.
Wooden spoon: Used to stir the ground beef while cooking and to mix the pasta with the cheeses.
Measuring cups: Used to measure the quantities of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
Knife: Used to mince the garlic cloves.
Cutting board: Used as a surface to mince the garlic cloves.
Oven mitts: Used to safely handle the hot baking dish when removing it from the oven.
How to Save Time on This Recipe
Use pre-cooked pasta: Save time by using pre-cooked ziti pasta available in stores, reducing your cooking time.
Pre-made sauce: Opt for a high-quality jarred marinara sauce to skip the step of making sauce from scratch.
Batch cook ground beef: Cook and freeze ground beef in advance, so you can just thaw and use it.
Pre-shredded cheese: Buy pre-shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese to avoid the hassle of grating.
One-pot method: Mix the pasta, cheese, and sauce in the same pot you used to cook the pasta, minimizing cleanup.
Easy Baked Ziti Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 jar marinara sauce about 24 oz
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- In a large pot, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, dried basil, and dried oregano. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked ziti pasta, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, and half of the Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
- Spread a thin layer of the meat sauce on the bottom of a baking dish. Layer half of the pasta mixture on top of the sauce. Add another layer of meat sauce, followed by the remaining pasta mixture. Top with the remaining meat sauce.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Nutritional Value
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