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Baked Ziti with Melty Cheese and Sauce

A delicious slice of Baked Ziti with melty cheese, rich sauce, and ground meat.
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A classic Italian-American baked ziti recipe featuring a rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta filling, and a generous topping of melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for family dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ziti pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 14 oz Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 15 oz ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Boil a large pot of salted water and cook ziti until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped onion until softened, about 3–4 minutes. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute more.
  4. Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking up the meat, until fully browned, roughly 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
  5. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.
  6. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and chopped parsley until smooth and uniform.
  7. Spread a thin layer of meat sauce in the baking dish. Layer half of the cooked ziti pasta, half of the ricotta mixture, and half of the meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese.
  8. Add remaining ziti, ricotta mixture, and meat sauce. Top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  9. Cover the dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
  10. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • This recipe is easy to adapt. You can use different types of pasta or add vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers to the sauce.
  • For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes.
  • Ensure your ricotta mixture is well combined for an even distribution of flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked ziti, melty cheese, pasta bake, Italian-American, comfort food, family dinner, easy pasta recipe, cheesy pasta

Find it online: https://www.meltitclean.com/baked-ziti-with-melty-cheese-and-sauce/