Try out our Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce recipe today! This dish features tender ziti tossed in a rich, slow-simmered ground chuck meat sauce, layered with creamy ricotta and melted mozzarella cheese.
Prep Time 15 Min | Cook Time 45 Min | Serves 4
Ingredients
- 12 oz ziti pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 lb ground chuck
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1 egg
- 4 oz fresh parsley
Directions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ziti according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Add the ground chuck, breaking it up as it cooks, and brown until fully cooked through. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Add the marinara sauce, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Reduce the heat and let the sauce simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
- In a bowl, combine the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg, mixing until smooth. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Mix the cooked ziti with the meat sauce until evenly coated. Spoon half of the pasta mixture into a baking dish, add dollops of the ricotta mixture, then top with the remaining pasta. Finish with additional mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
- Enjoy!