Baked Ziti

A comforting baked ziti with rich tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and melted mozzarella, perfect for an easy family dinner.

Baked ziti is a classic Italian-American casserole made with pasta, savory tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, and plenty of melted cheese. It is hearty, crowd-pleasing, and ideal for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or make-ahead meals.

Ingredients

• 450 g ziti pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 800 g ground beef or Italian sausage
• 900 ml tomato passata or marinara sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
• Salt, to taste
• Black pepper, to taste
• 425 g ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 100 g grated Parmesan cheese
• 300 g shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 190 C and lightly grease a large baking dish.
2. Cook the ziti in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onion until softened, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add the ground beef or sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
5. Stir in the tomato passata, tomato paste, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes if using, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
6. In a bowl, mix the ricotta, egg, half of the Parmesan, and parsley if using.
7. Combine the pasta with about two thirds of the sauce, then fold in the ricotta mixture gently.
8. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish. Top with half of the mozzarella and a little remaining sauce. Repeat with the remaining pasta and mozzarella, then finish with the remaining Parmesan.
9. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, until bubbly and golden on top.
10. Let the baked ziti rest for 10 minutes before serving.