Easy Cheesy Baked Ziti Recipe
This hearty baked ziti is the ultimate comfort food dinner made with layers of pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella cheese. It is easy to make, perfect for feeding a crowd, and makes delicious leftovers for the next day. Whether you are serving it for a cozy family dinner or bringing it to a gathering, this cheesy baked ziti recipe is always a hit.
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 16 oz ziti
- salt for boil
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 ounces pasta sauce (I use Rao's)
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Ricotta Mixture
- 15 oz ricotta
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup parmeson
- 1/2 cup mozzarella
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Topping
- 1/2 cup parmeson
- 2 cups mozzarella
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti pasta for about 9 minutes, until just shy of al dente. Drain the pasta and toss with a small drizzle of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.
Make the Meat Sauce
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the diced onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the pasta sauce and season with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together and let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.
Make the Ricotta Mixture
- In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until smooth and fully combined.
Combine the Pasta and Sauce
- Add the cooked ziti pasta directly into the meat sauce and stir until all of the pasta is evenly coated.
Assemble the Baked Ziti
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Spread half of the pasta and meat sauce mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Spoon half of the ricotta mixture evenly over the top. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta and meat sauce mixture on top. Spread the remaining ricotta mixture evenly across the dish.
- Finish with the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.
Bake
- Bake uncovered for 25–30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
- Remove the baked ziti from the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This helps everything set and makes it much easier to cut and serve.