Description
This Baked Ziti with Ricotta Cheese and Meat Sauce is the ultimate comfort food — rich, cheesy, and bursting with Italian flavor. Perfect for family dinners or meal prep, it combines tender pasta, savory meat sauce, and creamy ricotta for a satisfying, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg (optional, for binding)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook ziti pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil, then sauté onion and garlic until fragrant.
- Add ground beef or sausage and cook until browned.
- Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, half the mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg (optional).
- Layer half of the ziti in a greased baking dish, then spread half the ricotta mixture and half the meat sauce.
- Repeat layers and top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10–15 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with turkey for a leaner version.
- For extra creaminess, add a layer of béchamel sauce.
- Leftovers freeze well for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 85mg