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–+ servings
baked ziti on a wooden spoon

Baked Ziti

Jenny
Cheesy, beefy, and saucy baked ziti. An Italian American classic that feeds a crowd and is perfect for an easy family dinner.
5 from 4 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Entrée
Cuisine Italian
Servings 12
Calories 493 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup onion finely diced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • ½ cup cabernet sauvignon or merlot
  • 2 (24 oz) jars marinara sauce, or homemade see notes for homemade recipe
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning optional
  • 3 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 16 oz ricotta cheese
  • pecorino romano optional

Instructions
 

  • Cook the ziti in salted boiling water 2 minutes shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
  • While the pasta is cooking, make the meat sauce. In a large skillet on medium high heat, add olive oil and onion and sauté for 3 minutes. Move the onions to one side of the pan and add the ground beef. Brown the meat and break up any large chunks, about 5 minutes. Mix the onions and beef together and sauté for another couple minutes.
  • Add the red wine and simmer for 1 minute. Add marinara sauce and Italian seasoning and bring it to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Mix ricotta and 1 cup of meat sauce with the ziti.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a baking dish, layer half of each as follows: ziti mixture, meat sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese. Repeat with remaining ingredients.
  • Bake for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and the ziti is heated through. Broil on high for a few minutes to brown the cheese if desired. Serve with more parmesan or pecorino cheese.

Notes

  • Substitute ziti with rigatoni or penne.
  • Make your own marinara sauce.
  • If using canned crushed tomatoes, sauté a few cloves of chopped garlic with the onions. Add 1 tb of Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to taste. Add a pinch of sugar if needed. 
  • Substitute ground beef with Italian sausage or a mix of both.
  • Garnish with fresh basil, parsley or oregano for some flavor and color.

Nutrition Estimate

Calories: 493kcalCarbohydrates: 40gProtein: 25gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 711mgPotassium: 273mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 393IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 289mgIron: 2mg
Keyword baked ziti, beef
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