Spoon Simple
Cheesy Baked Ziti with Ricotta
A comforting and crowd-pleasing baked pasta dish perfect for family dinners. Layers of ziti pasta, rich meat sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella create a satisfying meal.
Prep 20 min
Cook 35 min
Total 55 min
Serves 6
Ingredients
Step 1 — For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Step 2 — For the Ziti
- 1 lb ziti pasta, cooked al dente
- 15 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- 1
Make Meat Sauce
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion; cook, breaking up the meat, until browned. Drain excess grease. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- 2
Cook Pasta
While sauce simmers, cook ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain well.
- 3
Prepare Ricotta Mixture
In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, beaten egg, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- 4
Assemble Ziti
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread about 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, toss the drained ziti with the remaining meat sauce. Spread half of the sauced pasta over the sauce in the baking dish. Dollop the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Top with the remaining sauced pasta. Sprinkle evenly with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- 5
Bake
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is golden brown and melted. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Nutrition per serving: 650 cal · 35g protein · 55g carbs · 32g fat · 7g fiber
For informational purposes only. Not medical or dietary advice. Verify ingredients for allergens, cooking times, and safe internal temperatures before serving.
