Description
Comforting weeknight Baked Ziti brings Italian-American pasta magic straight to dinner tables with layers of melted cheese and hearty marinara sauce. Pasta lovers will savor each forkful of this simple, satisfying casserole that delivers classic flavors in one delicious dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1 pound (1 lb) lean ground beef or mild Italian sausage
- 1 pound (1 lb) dry ziti pasta
- 1 pound (1 lb) ricotta cheese
Sauce and Dairy:
- 4 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, chopped into ¼-inch cubes
- 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Seasonings and Spices:
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the cooking environment by heating the oven to 375°F and coating a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light layer of cooking spray.
- Cook pasta in a generously salted pot of water until it reaches a tender but firm consistency, approximately 5-6 minutes. Carefully drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, brown the meat over medium-high heat, breaking it into small crumbles. Eliminate excess fat if necessary.
- Enhance the meat with Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes, then incorporate marinara sauce. Allow the mixture to simmer and develop flavors for 10 minutes.
- Create a creamy cheese blend by whisking ricotta with eggs, combining thoroughly with Parmesan and mozzarella in a separate mixing bowl.
- Transform heavy cream into a luscious base by whisking cornstarch and heating until it slightly thickens. Remove from heat and fold in the ricotta mixture and additional marinara sauce.
- Gently combine the drained pasta with the rich cream sauce, seasoning with salt and pepper to elevate the taste profile.
- Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly and topping with remaining marinara sauce.
- Generously sprinkle the remaining cheese varieties across the surface, ensuring complete coverage.
- Shield the dish with foil (lightly coated with nonstick spray) and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes until the cheese transforms into a golden, bubbling crust.
- Allow the ziti to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the dish set and intensifies its flavors.
Notes
- Perfectly time pasta cooking to achieve ideal texture by removing from boiling water just before fully cooked, ensuring it won’t become mushy during baking.
- Control meat sauce’s fat content by draining excess grease from ground beef or sausage, maintaining a lighter, less greasy final dish.
- Enhance ricotta mixture’s creaminess by using room temperature eggs and gently folding ingredients to maintain a smooth, light consistency.
- Customize the
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 660
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg