Uncover one of the best do-it-yourself baked ziti recipe that’s tacky, comforting, and simple to make! Full of pasta, wealthy marinara, and gooey melted cheese, this dish is ideal for household dinners or particular events. A crowd-pleaser everybody will love!
This baked ziti recipe is the final word straightforward weeknight dinner that’s positive to change into a household favourite. With just some easy components like ziti pasta, floor beef or sausage, marinara sauce, and loads of cheese, it comes collectively shortly and delivers on taste. The mix of seasoned meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and gooey melted mozzarella creates the right tacky, hearty dish. It’s supreme for busy nights if you want a comforting meal everybody will love. Plus, it’s nice for leftovers, making it a meal you may take pleasure in greater than as soon as!
Making this baked ziti is a breeze! Begin by cooking the ziti pasta till it’s al dente and set it apart. Then, brown the bottom meat with onions and garlic, including in your seasonings for a flavorful base. As soon as the meat sauce simmers with marinara and crushed tomatoes, you’ll put together the tacky filling by mixing ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and a little bit of egg to bind all of it collectively. Layering is the enjoyable half—unfold a few of the meat sauce within the backside of a baking dish, add a layer of pasta, then dollop and unfold the ricotta combination earlier than repeating with extra sauce and pasta. High all of it off with a beneficiant quantity of shredded mozzarella and parmesan, cowl, and bake till golden and bubbly. The result’s a heat, tacky dish that’s excellent for a fast household dinner!
Why You’ll Love This Baked Ziti Recipe
- This baked ziti recipe is tremendous straightforward to make, making it excellent for busy weeknights if you want a fast and satisfying meal.
- The mix of wealthy marinara sauce, savory floor meat, and a creamy cheese filling creates one of the best baked ziti that’s stuffed with taste.
- This dish is nice for feeding a crowd or a hungry household, because it’s hearty and positive to please everybody on the desk.
- You’ll be able to put together this baked ziti forward of time, making it a handy choice for meal prep or household gatherings.
- The gooey melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese on high may have everybody coming again for seconds.
Components to Make the Finest Baked Ziti Recipe
- 1 lb. ziti pasta noodle
- 1 lb. floor beef or floor sausage
- 1 giant onion, chopped
- 3 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided
- 1/2 tsp. crimson pepper flakes
- 45 oz. bottle marinara sauce
- 14.5 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 16 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
How To Make Selfmade Baked Ziti
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with baking spray
Step 2: Prepare dinner pasta based on package deal instructions, drain and put aside.
Step 3: In a big skillet add floor beef and chopped onion and cook dinner over medium warmth. Drain any extra grease.
Step 4: Stir in minced garlic, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, and crimson pepper flakes till effectively mixed.
Step 5: Add crushed tomatoes and marinara sauce. Deliver to a simmer stirring often for 5-6 minutes.
Step 6: Whereas sauce is simmering, put together cheese filling. In a medium dimension mixing bowl mix ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper and egg till effectively mixed.
Step 7: In a ready 9×13 baking dish unfold 1 1/2 cups meat sauce evenly on the underside of the dish.
Step 8: Unfold 1/2 of the cooked pasta over sauce.
Step 9: Dollop Spoonfuls of ricotta cheese combination over noodles and unfold.
Step 10: Unfold half of the marinara sauce over cheese and high with remaining noodles.
Step 11: Unfold remaining sauce over noodles and high with remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese.
Step 12: Spray aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray, cowl and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Take away cowl and bake an extra 10 minutes or till the cheese has fully melted.
Step 13: Serve instantly. Get pleasure from
In style Substitutions & Additions
Swap the bottom beef for floor turkey, hen, or sausage to alter up the flavour of the meat sauce.
For a vegetarian model, use sautéed greens like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach instead of the meat.
Add a layer of recent basil or spinach between the pasta and cheese layers for additional taste and vitamins.
Use gluten-free pasta should you’re seeking to make this baked ziti recipe gluten-free.
Storing Leftover Simple Baked Ziti
To retailer leftover straightforward baked ziti, permit the dish to chill to room temperature earlier than transferring it to an hermetic container. It can preserve within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. For longer storage, you may freeze the baked ziti in a freezer-safe container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. It may be frozen for as much as 3 months. To reheat, merely thaw within the fridge in a single day and heat within the oven at 350°F till heated by means of. You may also microwave particular person servings for a faster choice.
What to Serve with this Baked Ziti Recipe
I sometimes serve this baked ziti recipe with an Italian salad and a aspect of bread. My go-to bread recipe is that this Simple Selfmade Breadsticks Recipe. They style identical to Olive Backyard!
Finest Baked Ziti Recipe FAQ’s
Can I make this baked ziti forward of time?
Sure! You’ll be able to assemble the baked ziti a day forward and retailer it within the fridge. If you’re able to bake, simply pop it within the oven and observe the baking directions.
Can I exploit a unique kind of pasta?
Whereas ziti is conventional, you may simply swap it for penne, rigatoni, or any pasta form you favor.
What can I exploit as a substitute of ricotta cheese?
If you happen to don’t have ricotta, you may substitute it with cottage cheese or perhaps a dairy-free ricotta for a lighter or vegan-friendly choice.
Can I add greens to this baked ziti recipe?
Sure! You’ll be able to add greens like spinach, mushrooms, or bell peppers to the meat sauce or layer them between the pasta and cheese for additional taste and vitamin.
Different Pasta Recipes You’ll Love
Don’t neglect to return again and inform us how your Finest Selfmade Baked Ziti Recipe turned out!
The Finest Selfmade Baked Ziti Recipe
That is The Finest Baked Ziti Recipe you’ll ever attempt. Made with hearty pasta, floor beef, flavorful marinara, layered with mozzarella, ricotta, and parmesan cheese. This Italian consolation meals will change into one in all your loved ones’s favourite casserole dinners.
- 1 lb. ziti pasta noodle
- 1 lb. floor beef or floor sausage
- 1 giant onion, chopped
- 3 tsp. minced garlic
- 2 tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt, divided
- 1 1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided
- 1/2 tsp. crimson pepper flakes
- 45 oz. bottle marinara sauce
- 14.5 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 16 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 15 oz. ricotta cheese
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 egg
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Preheat oven to 350F and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with baking spray
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Prepare dinner pasta based on package deal instructions, drain and put aside.
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In a big skillet add floor beef and chopped onion and cook dinner over medium warmth. Drain any extra grease.
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Stir in minced garlic, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, and crimson pepper flakes till effectively mixed.
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Add crushed tomatoes and marinara sauce. Deliver to a simmer stirring often for 5-6 minutes.
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Whereas sauce is simmering, put together cheese filling. In a medium dimension mixing bowl mix ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. pepper and egg till effectively mixed.
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In a ready 9×13 baking dish unfold 1 1/2 cups meat sauce evenly on the underside of the dish.
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Unfold 1/2 of the cooked pasta over sauce.
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Dollop Spoonfuls of ricotta cheese combination over noodles and unfold.
-
Unfold half of the marinara sauce over cheese and high with remaining noodles.
-
Unfold remaining sauce over noodles and high with remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese.
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Spray aluminum foil with nonstick cooking spray, cowl and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Take away cowl and bake an extra 10 minutes or till the cheese has fully melted.
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Serve instantly. Get pleasure from
*Vitamin Disclaimer: All data introduced on this web site is meant for informational functions solely. Vitamin information are an estimate and never assured to be correct. I’m not a licensed nutritionist and any dietary data shared on Modernmealmakeover.com ought to solely be used as a normal guideline.
