Baked Ziti Ground Beef Mozzarella (Printable Version)
Tender pasta layered with savory ground beef marinara and golden mozzarella cheese baked to perfection.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 pound ziti pasta
→ Meat Sauce
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 pound ground beef
04 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
07 - 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
09 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - 1 teaspoon dried basil
11 - ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
12 - 1 teaspoon salt
13 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
14 - 2 teaspoons sugar
→ Cheese
15 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
16 - 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
17 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
18 - 1 large egg
→ Fresh Herbs (optional)
19 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
# How-To:
01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti until al dente according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through.
04 - Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
05 - Pour in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Stir in oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes if using, salt, black pepper, and sugar. Let simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
06 - In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the grated parmesan cheese until well mixed.
07 - Add the cooked ziti to the skillet with the meat sauce and toss until evenly coated.
08 - Spread half of the sauced pasta into the prepared baking dish. Spoon half of the ricotta mixture over the pasta and sprinkle with 1 cup of mozzarella. Repeat layering with remaining pasta, ricotta, and mozzarella. Top with remaining parmesan cheese.
09 - Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
10 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It feeds a crowd without requiring you to spend hours in the kitchen, which means more time actually enjoying the people around your table.
- The combination of three cheeses creates this unexpectedly rich, creamy texture that feels fancy but tastes like home.
- It's one of those dishes that gets even better if you make it ahead and reheat it, so Sunday cooking becomes Monday dinner too.
02 -
- Cook your pasta just slightly under where you normally would—it's going to keep cooking in the oven, and mushy ziti is a disappointment nobody recovers from.
- Don't skip the 10-minute rest after baking; it's the difference between a casserole that holds together and one that slides around the plate.
- Taste your sauce before it goes in the oven and adjust the salt and sugar to your preference—the cheese will add its own saltiness later.
03 -
- Use a combination of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce rather than just one or the other—it gives you both texture and smoothness that neither can deliver alone.
- Don't be stingy with the ricotta mixture; those creamy layers are what make this dish feel luxurious and restaurant-quality in your own kitchen.