Baked Ziti Ground Beef (Printer-friendly)
Tender ziti pasta layered with beef, marinara sauce, and melted cheese, baked to golden perfection.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb ziti pasta
→ Meat
02 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 preferred)
→ Sauce
03 - 24 oz marinara sauce (homemade or high-quality store-bought)
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Cheese
07 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Seasonings
10 - 1 tsp dried basil
11 - 1 tsp dried oregano
12 - 1/2 tsp salt (plus more for pasta water)
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti according to package instructions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
04 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess fat from the skillet.
05 - Stir in marinara sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 5 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
06 - In a large bowl, combine cooked ziti, meat sauce, half the mozzarella cheese, and all the ricotta cheese. Mix gently until evenly distributed.
07 - Transfer half the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the remaining mozzarella and half the Parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then finish with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
08 - Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and bubbling. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the dish to set.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The middle layer of ricotta keeps every forkful incredibly creamy
- Leftovers taste even better after the flavors have time to meld together
02 -
- Don't overcook the pasta initially since it will continue baking in the oven
- Draining the beef fat keeps the dish from becoming greasy but don't rinse the meat
03 -
- Spraying the foil with cooking spray prevents cheese from sticking to it
- Letting it rest before serving is the hardest but most important step