Easy Baked Ziti

Pasta is a definite family favorite in my house. I know for sure that my little one will always go for some noddles for dinner. And, although spaghetti is super duper simple, sometimes I’m in the mood for something a little more fancy. Easy Baked Ziti is the perfect compromise between spaghetti and lasagna and is, in my opinion the best of both!

Make sure to first, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then start cooking the ziti pasta, since this will take some time.

Chop up the onion and saute with olive oil in a large skillet for 5-7 minutes.

Add the ground beef and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook for about 10 minutes, until the meat is no longer pink.

Drain the grease, then mix in the dry seasonings.

Pour in the pasta sauce, diced tomatoes and sugar. Mix together. Simmer for 5-7 minutes.

When the pasta is done, drain the water out and return it to the pot. You will end up with a pan of meat sauce, and pot of pasta.

Pour the meat sauce into the pasta pot and stir together.

Using a deep casserole dish, layer in the following order:

• 1/2 the pasta sauce mixture
• Evenly dollop the ricotta cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• The remaining pasta sauce mixture
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cover and cook for 20 minutes.

Serve this Easy Baked Ziti hot with some garlic bread! Enjoy!

Looking for another amazing pasta recipe? Try this

[ Italian Chicken & Pasta ]

Print Recipe

Easy Baked Ziti

Course

Main Dish

Cuisine

Italian

Keyword

casserole, easy

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

45 minutes

Servings

people

Ingredients

• 16 oz Ziti pasta 1 box
• 1 Onion
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb Ground beef
• 2 Tbsp Minced garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp Rosemary
• 48 oz Pasta sauce 2 regular jars
• 15 oz Diced tomatoes 1 can
• 4 Tbsp Sugar
• 15 oz Ricotta cheese
• 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese

Course Main Dish Cuisine Italian Keyword casserole, easy Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 45 minutes Servings people Ingredients 16 oz Ziti pasta 1 box 1 Onion 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 lb Ground beef 2 Tbsp Minced garlic Salt and pepper to taste 1 Tbsp Italian seasoning 1 tsp Rosemary 48 oz Pasta sauce 2 regular jars 15 oz Diced tomatoes 1 can 4 Tbsp Sugar 15 oz Ricotta cheese 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cook ziti pasta on the stovetop
3. Chop up onion. Pour olive oil in a large skillet and cook onion 5-7 mins.
4. Add ground beef and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook about 10 mins, until meat is no longer pink.
5. Drain grease. Add salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and rosemary. Mix.
6. Add pasta sauce, diced tomatoes and sugar. Mix.
7. Simmer for 5-7 mins.
8. Once the pasta is cooked, drain water and add the sauce mixture to the pasta pot. Mix together.
9. Using a 9"x13" deep casserole dish, layer in the following order: 1/2 pasta sauce mixture, Evenly dollop the ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 pasta sauce mixture, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 parmesan cheese.
10. Cover and cook for 20 mins.