Best Ever Baked Ziti Recipe
Get your forks ready for the Best Ever Baked Ziti! This cheesy, saucy, and perfectly baked layers of pasta will leave you craving more —don’t say we didn’t warn you!
Servings: 6
Calories: 593kcal
Ingredients
For the Sauce
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 stalk celery diced
- 1 carrot peeled and diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons red wine
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 24 oz. jar favorite marinara sauce
- 12 ounce dried ziti noodles
For the Cheese
- 8 oz ricotta cheese whole
- 8 oz mozzarella cheese freshly grated
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
For the Topping
- 2 tbsp parsley freshly chopped
Instructions
- To make the sauce, set it in a large, deep skillet over medium heat, and add the oil. Once hot, add the onion, celery, and carrot. Sauté for 3–4 minutes, or until soft. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the beef, season with salt and pepper. Break the beef into smaller pieces and brown for about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the red wine and let cook for 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and marinara, mixing until combined. Let simmer on low while cooking the pasta.
- Place a large stockpot filled with water over high heat. Bring to a boil. Cook the ziti for 6 minutes, then drain and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). In a medium-deep baking dish, add half of the pasta. Spread ½ of the sauce over the top, then ½ of the cheese over the top. Add the remaining pasta, and then stir in the remaining sauce mixture. Add the remaining ricotta and Parmesan, then sprinkle the mozzarella over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and continue baking for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 minutes before garnishing with parsley.
Notes
STORE any leftover Baked Ziti covered in the fridge for up to 3–4 days, or up to a week if you like leftovers! To FREEZE, allow Baked Ziti to cool completely before wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe airtight container. It will stay good for 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To REHEAT, cover with foil and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, or microwave individual portions until warmed through.
Nutrition
Calories: 593kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 508mg | Potassium: 602mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2385IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 402mg | Iron: 3mg
