Best Easy Homemade Baked Ziti (Cheesy, Saucy & Comforting!)
The ultimate Easy Homemade Baked Ziti recipe! Loaded with a rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and topped with bubbly melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect family dinner!
Ingredients
- 1 lb uncooked ziti pasta
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 24 oz rich marinara sauce or crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese divided
- 2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil torn, for garnish
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil ziti pasta about 2 minutes less than package directions, then drain and set aside.
- Brown ground beef or sausage with garlic, then stir in marinara sauce and simmer.
- Mix ricotta cheese with beaten egg and half the parmesan, seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Layer half the pasta, all the ricotta mixture, then the remaining pasta and meat sauce in a baking dish.
- Top with mozzarella and remaining parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake 10-15 minutes more until golden and bubbly.
- Rest for 10 minutes, garnish with fresh basil, and serve.
Notes
- Boil pasta 2 minutes less than package directions, since it continues cooking in the oven and can turn mushy otherwise.
- Mixing ricotta with egg and parmesan before layering is the key to preventing a dry, crumbly casserole.
- Rest the finished baked ziti for 10 minutes before slicing so the layers hold together neatly.