Baked Ziti: Your Ultimate Comfort Food
There are few better ways to spend a chilly evening than tucking into a piping hot plate of Baked Ziti. This rich, flavorful dish, full of oozy cheese, zesty tomato sauce, and tender pasta, is the epitome of comfort food.
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories | Fat | Saturates | Sugars | Salt | Protein | Carbs | Fibre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
580 | 25g | 10g | 8g | 1.5g | 35g | 50g | 4g |
Nutrition: The above table indicates nutritional intake per serving for an adult.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb Ziti pasta
- 2 cups Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 4 cups Marinara sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook Ziti pasta until al dente, according to package instructions.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef or sausage with garlic until brown. Drain fat. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked ziti, ricotta cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, half the Parmesan cheese, and the meat sauce. Stir until well combined.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Garnish with fresh basil before serving.