Easy Baked Ziti Recipe with Cheesy Layers and Ground Beef
Easy baked ziti recipe with cheesy layers and rich meat sauce—perfect for any dinner table.
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the ziti pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté diced onion for 2–3 minutes, then add garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and season with salt, pepper, and basil. Simmer for 5–10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix ricotta cheese with the egg and half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Add cooked pasta to the meat sauce and stir to combine.
- In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread half the pasta mixture, then layer with ricotta mixture, and top with the remaining pasta.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.