Baked Ziti Cheesy Baked Ziti with Marinara and Ricotta Ingredients: 1 lb ziti pasta 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage 1 small onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 (28 oz) jar marinara sauce 1 (15 oz) container ricotta cheese 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 egg 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried Salt and pepper to taste Fresh parsley (optional garnish) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cook the ziti according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook for 2–3 minutes. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and basil. In a bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, and egg until smooth. Toss the cooked pasta with half of the meat sauce. In the baking dish, layer half of the pasta mixture, spread the ricotta mixture evenly over it, then top with remaining pasta and sauce. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned. Let rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired. Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour Kcal: 525 kcal | Servings: 8 servings #bakedziti #pastaalforno #italiancasserole #familydinner #cheesylayers #comfortfoodclassic #homemadepasta #pastabake #weeknightdinner #zitimeal #easyitalianrecipes #ovenbakedpasta #ricottarecipes #mozzarellalove #heartycasserole #onepanmeals #italiandinner #sundaydinnerideas #quickitalian #cheesycomfort Layers of melty cheese, savory sauce, and baked pasta perfection This Baked Ziti is everything you want on a cozy night in.

Baked Ziti with Mozzarella Cheesy Baked Ziti with Melted Mozzarella and Rich Tomato Sauce Ingredients: 1 lb (450g) ziti pasta 2 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought) 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 cup ricotta cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme) Salt and pepper to taste Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional) Directions: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Cook ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add ground beef or Italian sausage, season with salt, pepper, and Italian herbs. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes to combine flavors. In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, meat sauce, and ricotta cheese. Mix well. Transfer half of the pasta mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese and some Parmesan. Layer the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly with golden spots. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve hot. Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cooking Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 55 minutes Kcal: 650 kcal per serving | Servings: 6 servings #bakedziti #italiancomfortfood #cheesypasta #mozarellapasta #homemadeitalian #comfortfoodrecipes #pastaovenbake #heartymeals #familydinner #easydinnerrecipes #italianrecipes #pastaandcheese #weeknightdinner #ricottacheese #groundbeefrecipes #italiandish #tomatosauce #pastafood #cheeselover #homecooking Indulge in this classic Baked Ziti with Mozzarella—layers of cheesy goodness and rich meat sauce baked to bubbly perfection! Perfect for family dinners!