• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Dutch Oven Daddy
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Memorial Day Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Cast Iron Care
  • Store
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Cast Iron Care
    • Store
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Pasta and Noodle Recipes

    Dutch Oven Baked Ziti

    Published: Oct 16, 2017 ยท Modified: Mar 5, 2022 by Ned Adams ยท This post may contain affiliate links ยท 5 Comments

    439 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Flipboard
    Jump to Recipe

    Dutch Oven Baked Ziti in cast iron really brings the flavor out for this beautiful dish.

    Get the Recipe

    Dutch Oven Baked Ziti
    Print Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

    Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce is the ultimate comfort food your whole family will love. Made in a Dutch oven with layers of pasta, meat, and gooey cheese, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for weeknight dinners and easy to make!
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    Cook Time1 hour hr
    Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian Fusion
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 1013kcal
    Author: Ned Adams
    Cost: $35
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 12" cast iron skillet
    • 5 quart Dutch Oven

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 large onion diced
    • 1 lb Italian sausage
    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 28 oz whole tomatoes with juice
    • 29 oz tomato sauce
    • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ⅛ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper
    • 16 oz ziti cooked until not quite al dente
    • 15 oz ricotta cheese
    • 1 ½ lb Mozzarella cheese shredded
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
    • 1 egg
    • fresh minced parsley
    US Standard - Metric

    Instructions

    • In large skillet, saute onions and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for several minutes until soft. Add Italian sausage and ground beef to skillet and brown meat. Drain most of fat, retaining some for flavor and moisture.
    • Add tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce or marinara, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to cool.
    • Preheat oven to 375°F.
    • In a large bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the grated mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, and salt and pepper. Stir mixture a few times, not mixing completely.
    • Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking process and to cool it down. Pour noodles into the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine, leaving large lumps. Add the 3-4 cups cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.
    • Add half the pasta mixture to a large 5 quart Dutch Oven. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of the pasta mixture, sauce, and mozzarella. 
    • Bake for 20 minutes, or until bubbling. Remove from oven, sprinkle with parsley, and let stand 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    • Boost the nutrition of your baked ziti with veggies like spinach, mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini. Sauté them with the meat for added flavor, or layer them in with the cheese mixture for a veggie-packed twist!
    • Let your baked ziti rest for a few minutes after baking to help the layers set, make serving easier, and keep each portion perfectly intact.
    • Cook your pasta al dente before mixing it with the sauce. This ensures it won’t get mushy as it finishes baking in the oven.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1013kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 62g | Saturated Fat: 28g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 24g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 202mg | Sodium: 1724mg | Potassium: 1166mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2208IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 686mg | Iron: 5mg

    Dutch Oven Daddy is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

    Did you try this recipe?Leave me a comment and rating below or Tag @DutchOvenDaddy on Instagram to show us your photos!

    More Flavorful Pasta and Noodle Recipes

    • Close up image of dutch oven chili mac.
      Dutch Oven Chili Mac
    • Close up image of the skillet with spaghetti and meatballs, two portions missing and plated in white bowls.
      Skillet Spaghetti and Meatballs
    • A hearty serving of Sausage Tortellini Casserole on a white plate with a piece of garlic bread and a fork.
      Dutch Oven Sausage Tortellini Casserole
    • Baked skillet full of bacon cheeseburger casserole.
      Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Pete

      July 20, 2024 at 5:26 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today with a few changes. (Added finely chopped carrots, celery, mushrooms, and a bell pepper. Mixed in 1 lb of blanched spinach and fresh basil with the ricotta.) Also mixed in some Pecorino for extra rich flavor. Came out smooth, savory, and extra bubbly. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Ned Adams

        July 20, 2024 at 5:33 pm

        So glad you enjoyed! Those changes sound amazing!

        Reply
    2. Travis

      December 03, 2022 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I have mentioned this in other comments. My wife has some Italian heritage so she is all about trying italian dishes. We can't wait to try this one.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    picture of dutch oven daddy holding a dutch oven.

    Hi I'm Ned,

    the Dutch Oven Daddy! Iโ€™m a full-time computer nerd and part-time cook. My passion is cast iron cooking with tips, tricks, and delicious recipes. I love using my recipes to bring together family and friends. I believe everything is made better in cast iron!

    More about me

    Popular Recipes

    • Plated pot roast over mashed potatoes with a side of green beans.
      Dutch Oven Mississippi Pot Roast

    • Baked skillet full of bacon cheeseburger casserole.
      Skillet Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

    • A portion of beef stroganoff served in a white bowl with a fork.
      One Pot Beef Stroganoff

    • Creamed Corn Cornbread still in the skillet ready to be served.
      Skillet Creamed Corn Cornbread

    • Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.
      Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

    • Dutch Oven Pork Roast

    Memorial Day Recipes

    • Two cheeseburgers in a bun with lettuce, onion, and tomato with french fries between them.
      Cast Iron Skillet Burgers

    • Freshly steamed corn on the cob in a dutch oven with butter and chopped parsley.
      Steamed Corn on theย Cob

    • Glazed smoked chicken wings on a platter with corn and other sides.
      Sizzling Smoked Chicken Wings

    • Red, white, and blue berry cobbler baked in a round 12-inch cast iron skillet.
      Red, White, and Blueย Berry Cobbler

    • Cooked and ready to eat cinnamon holes.
      Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls

    • The camp oven lasagna has cooked, rested, and been garnished with fresh basil and is ready to serve.
      Dutch Oven Lasagna

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

    439 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    Let us know what you thought of this recipe:

    This worked exactly as written, thanks!
    My family loved this!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe

    Or write in your own words:

    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.