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The Best Baked Ziti - A Crowd Favorite

Learn how to make the best baked ziti with this easy, foolproof recipe. Loaded with cheesy ricotta layers, savory tomato sauce, and golden bubbly mozzarella. It's the ultimate comfort food for weeknight dinners, potlucks, and meal prep
Print Recipe
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 300 g ziti
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or any neutral oil
  • 3 garlic cloves ( minced )
  • 1 1 small onion ( chopped )
  • 500 g ground beef or pork
  • 700 g pureed tomato
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup ricotta
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese ( grated )
  • 1 cup parmesan
  • parsley or basil ( finely chopped )
  • ½ tbsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper ( optional )
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Method
 

Cook your ziti
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a full boil. Salt it generously; it should taste like mild seawater.
  2. Add your ziti and cook it for two minutes less than the package directions say.
  3. Drain it and set it aside.
  4. Toss the drained pasta with a small drizzle of olive oil to stop it from sticking together while you finish the other components.
Brown the Meat
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your onions and garlic and sauté
  2.  Add your ground beef and break it apart as it cooks. 
  3. Pour your tomato sauce directly into the skillet with the browned meat and garlic. 
  4.  Add all your seasoning; paprika, onion powder, a pinch of salt, and a crack of black pepper. Add in the water, and sugar too
  5. Stir everything together and let it simmer for five minutes over medium-low heat.
  6. Taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly. If sauce feels too acidic, add in a tablespoon of sugar for perfectly balances sauce
  7. In a medium bowl, combine your ricotta, one egg, half of the shredded mozzarella, a generous handful of Parmesan, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
  8. Stir until everything is evenly mixed. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly
  9. Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the tomato sauce and toss to coat everything evenly.
  10. Layer the dish: Spread the sauced pasta evenly across the bottom of the dish.
  11. Second layer: Drop spoonfuls of the ricotta mixture across the pasta. Spread it gently, but don’t worry about making it perfectly even.
  12. Pour over remaining sauce
  13. Scatter the remaining mozzarella evenly across the top and finish with a generous handful of parmesan.
  14. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes
  15. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese on top is golden, bubbly, and starting to get a few lightly browned spots.
  16. Let the baked ziti sit uncovered for 10 minutes before you cut into it or scoop it out.
  17. Garnish with parsley or basil
  18. Serve and enjoy