Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

5 from 3 votes

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

Cook Time1

Total Time1 10

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian Fusion

Servings: people

Calories: 1013kcal

Author: Ned Adams

Cost: $35

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