Baked Ziti
Baked Ziti Pasta with Ground Beef, Onion, Garlic, Herbs Tomato Sauce, Ricotta, Mozzarella & Parmesan cheeses. Simply Delicious!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- 1 lb lean ground beef - 85% lean
- 1 onion - chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic - minced
- 5 cups tomato or marinara sauce
- 4 tbsp ricotta cheese
- 12 oz Mozzarella cheese - shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese - grated
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt & crushed black pepper to taste
- red pepper flakes to taste - optional
- 10 fresh basil leaves - cut into ribbons/chiffonade
- Ample water to boil/cook Ziti pasta
Boiling Pasta
1. Boil ample water in large pot/pan
Add 1 tbsp salt & Ziti pasta
Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until al dente
Drain water from pasta, once done
Preparing Meat Sauce
2. Add olive oil in large preheated Dutch oven or saucepan
Once oil is hot add ground beef & onion
Saute until ground beef is cooked then add garlic
Mix well then add 4 cups tomato/marinara sauce
Add salt & crushed black pepper to taste. Mix well
Now add ricotta cheese, stirring until it blends in
Toss in fresh basil leaves then add cooked ziti pasta
Mix well, simmer for a minute
Pasta Prep For Baking
In a baking dish/tray spoon in remaining tomato sauce
Layer with half the ziti pasta- meat sauce mixture
Spread half the mozzarella cheese on the pasta mixture
Sprinkle half the Parmesan cheese as well
Repeat layering process for remaining ziti pasta mixture & cheese
Baking Ziti Pasta
Place Ziti pasta tray in a 350* F preheated oven for 25 minutes
Now broil for 2 minutes then remove from oven
Let Baked Ziti Pasta rest for 10 minutes then serve a portion on a plate
Wallah! You delicious Baked Ziti Pasta is ready! Bon Appetit!
Keyword baked ziti, gastro guru kitchen, pasta casserole