Description
This Cheesy Baked Ziti is the ultimate comfort food for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend dinners. Made with ziti pasta, rich marinara, seasoned ground beef, and layers of melted mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan, this easy recipe delivers big on flavor and feeds a hungry crowd. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, hearty food ideas, or easy recipes to please the whole family, this baked ziti hits the spot every time. It also makes great leftovers — perfect for meal prepping ahead!
Ingredients
454g (1 lb) ziti pasta
450g (1 lb) ground beef
700ml (24 oz) marinara sauce
240g (1 cup) ricotta cheese
225g (2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese
50g (1/2 cup) grated Parmesan cheese
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a skillet, brown ground beef with onion and garlic. Drain fat.
3. Stir in marinara sauce and Italian seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. In a bowl, combine ricotta with 1 cup mozzarella and half the Parmesan. Add salt and pepper.
5. In a 9×13 baking dish, layer half the pasta, half the meat sauce, and half the ricotta mixture. Repeat.
6. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan on top.
7. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
8. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
Notes
Make it vegetarian by skipping the meat and doubling up on mushrooms or zucchini.
You can prep and refrigerate the dish ahead — just bake when you’re ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: cheesy baked ziti, easy dinner, pasta bake, quick dinner ideas