The History Behind This Recipe

Baked ziti is the American-Italian dinner of a thousand family gatherings — the dish that shows up at every potluck, holiday table, and weeknight rescue. It builds on the Southern Italian tradition of baking pasta with tomato sauce and cheese, and in American kitchens it became a beloved cousin of lasagna: simpler to assemble, just as satisfying, and endlessly adaptable.

Ingredients (6 servings)

• 1 lb (450g) ziti or penne
• 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz / 800g) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups (360g) ricotta cheese
• 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella
• 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• Fresh basil, for serving
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Brown the beef in a large skillet, then add the onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes.
3. Cook the ziti until just shy of al dente; drain.
4. Mix the ricotta with the egg, 1 cup mozzarella, and half the Parmesan.
5. Toss the ziti with the meat sauce and ricotta mixture. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Bake 25–30 minutes, until bubbling and golden. Rest 10 minutes, then top with basil and serve.

Tips & Variations

• Undercook the pasta slightly — it keeps cooking in the oven.
• Resting before serving lets the layers set so it slices cleanly.
• Add a layer of mozzarella in the middle for extra gooeyness.

Print Recipe

Family Favorite

Baked Ziti

Author: Cooking Method: Baking Cuisine: Italian-American Courses: Dinner Recipe Keys: C Comfort Food I Italian-American

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 20 mins Cook Time 30 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 55 mins

Cooking Temp: 190  C Servings: 6 Estimated Cost: $ 12 Calories: 480

Best Season: All Year

Description

Ziti pasta layered with a rich meat sauce and creamy ricotta, topped with mozzarella and baked until golden and bubbling.

Ingredients:

Servings

• 1 lb (450g) ziti or penne
• 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
• 1 small onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (28 oz / 800g) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• ¹⁄₂ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups (360g) ricotta cheese
• 2 cups (200g) shredded mozzarella
• ¹⁄₂ cup (50g) grated Parmesan
• 1 egg
• Fresh basil, for serving
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Brown the beef in a large skillet, then add the onion and garlic and cook until soft. Add the crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 15 minutes.
3. Cook the ziti until just shy of al dente; drain.
4. Mix the ricotta with the egg, 1 cup mozzarella, and half the Parmesan.
5. Toss the ziti with the meat sauce and ricotta mixture. Transfer to a baking dish and top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Bake 25–30 minutes, until bubbling and golden. Rest 10 minutes, then top with basil and serve.

Note

Slightly undercooking the pasta keeps it from getting mushy since it continues cooking in the oven. This dish freezes exceptionally well, so a double batch is worth making, and fresh basil on top adds a nice burst of flavor.

Keywords: Cheesy, Bubbly, Crowd-Pleasing