Baked Ziti Recipe
Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is made with ziti pasta, tomato sauce, Italian sausage, ricotta cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Baked ziti is a hearty and satisfying dish that is sure to please everyone at the table.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil 30 grams
- 1 whole large onion diced (2 cups, 170 grams)
- 4 cloves garlic minced (2 tablespoons, 6 grams)
- 1 pound Italian sausage casings removed (450 grams)
- 1 pound ground beef 450 grams
- 28 ounces can whole tomatoes crushed by hand (800 grams)
- 14.5 ounces cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce 416 grams
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning 6 grams
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2.5 grams
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 16 ounces ziti or mostaccioli pasta 450 grams
- 15 ounces tub whole milk ricotta cheese 425 grams
- 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella cheese grated and divided (680 grams)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 60 grams
- 1 large egg
- Freshly minced parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the Italian sausage and ground beef to the pot and cook until browned, breaking up the meat with a spoon as it cooks.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to the pot. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the grated mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce pot and stir to combine.
- Spread 1/2 of the pasta mixture in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Top with 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat layers with the remaining pasta mixture, ricotta cheese mixture, and mozzarella cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with freshly minced parsley, if desired.
Notes
- You can use any type of pasta you like for this recipe.
- If you don't have Italian sausage, you can use ground beef or ground pork instead.
- If you don't like spicy food, you can omit the red pepper flakes.
- Feel free to add other ingredients to the sauce, such as mushrooms, green peppers, or onions.
- For a richer flavor, use whole milk ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese.
- To make ahead of time, assemble the casserole as directed but do not bake. Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.