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Two photos of baked ziti with melted mozzarella and a scoop being served.

Easy Baked Ziti

Cheesy baked ziti with a hearty meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ziti or penne
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 yellow onion diced
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 can 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 1 jar 24 ounces marinara sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 15 ounces whole milk ricotta
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan divided
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella divided
  • Fresh basil for serving

Equipment

  • 9x13-inch baking dish
  • Large skillet
  • Large pot

Method
 

  1. Boil the ziti 2 minutes short of the package time and drain.
  2. Brown the beef, sausage, and onion, add the garlic, and simmer with the tomatoes, marinara, and seasoning for 10 minutes.
  3. Mix the ricotta, egg, and half the Parmesan.
  4. Layer the sauced pasta with ricotta and mozzarella in a baking dish.
  5. Tip: Keep the sauce slightly loose.
  6. Bake covered at 375°F for 20 minutes, then uncovered 10 to 15 minutes until golden.
  7. Rest 10 minutes and top with basil.

Notes

Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and add 10 minutes to the bake time.
Whole milk ricotta gives the creamiest layer.