Baked Ziti
Baked ziti is one of those classic comfort meals that everyone is happy to see on the table. This version is hearty and flavorful with sausage, ground beef, plenty of cheese, and fresh basil stirred in at the end. It is the kind of dinner that feels cozy and familiar but still special enough for Sunday night or when you are feeding a crowd. Everything comes together easily, and once it is in the oven, the hardest part is waiting for it to bake. This baked ziti is warm, filling, and perfect for leftovers, making it a meal we turn to again and again.
Baked Ziti
This baked ziti is hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor from sausage, beef, and fresh basil. Easy to assemble and perfect for feeding a crowd or stocking the freezer, it is a classic comfort meal everyone loves.
Equipment
- large pot to cook pasta
- large saute pan
- 9 x 13 in baking dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb ziti or penne rigate, cooked according to package
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 1 lb italian sausage or ground beef or mix of both
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup basil, chopped
- 1 26 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce we love Rao's
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- ½ cup cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 ℉. Spray the 9 x 13 in baking dish with olive oil spray. Gather all ingredients and dice the onion and garlic. Boil a large pot of water and cook the pasta.
- In a large pan or a dutch oven, heat the olive oil and saute the onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook another 3 minutes. Add the meat, salt and pepper. Break the meat apart into small crumbles and cook until there is no more pink. Drain the fat from the pan.
- Remove from the heat and add the parmesan, ricotta and cream cheese to the pan. Add the cooked pasta and stir to combine thoroughly. Alternatively, if you need more room, add all ingredients to the large pot you cooked and drained the pasta from.
- Spread into greased 9 x 13 in baking dish and cover with the grated mozzarella cheese. Bake for 20 min in the 400℉ oven to melt the cheese. Broil for 2 minutes to toast the cheese.
- You can make this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator. Then bake for a longer amount of time until the pasta is hot in the center and the cheese is bubbly.
Notes
We often double or triple this recipe to make for large family gatherings.