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Easy Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce

The first time I published this easy baked ziti recipe was back in May of 2014. Since then, it has been a reader favorite. It has gotten so much love that I even made Eggplant Baked Ziti, a vegetarian version of this pasta bake.

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I love baked ziti, I really do. To me, it is like having lasagna for dinner without all the extra work. Similar to my Spaghetti Bolognese, it is one of those classic Italian-American recipes that simply never gets old. It’s the perfect combination of pasta to meat sauce to cheese.

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The beauty of this pasta bake recipe is truly in the fact that it can feed a crowd, offering a hearty and comforting meal for your dinner guests. But it’s also great because if you don’t have many people to feed, such as the case for my husband and I, leftovers can be stored in the freezer so that dinner can be on the table in a matter of minutes!

Recipe Ingredients:

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The ingredients for this easy baked ziti recipe are basic pantry staples with easy substitutions. Below is everything you will need:

Olive Oil: You’ll need oil to sautee the meat. We opted for olive oil, but you can use avocado oil or ghee if preferred.
Ground Beef: We are using ground beef for the meat sauce, but this recipe can be made with any ground meat, including ground turkey, chicken, pork, or even lamb. Alternatively, you can also use Italian sausage in place of ground meat.
Onion: A yellow onion is all you need.
Tomatoes: We used canned tomatoes to make the tomato sauce for the convenience and ease, but you can use fresh tomatoes as well. If you are short on time and prefer a shortcut, feel free to use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce.
Red wine vinegar: Vinegar is needed to brighten up the flavors. While we opted for red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar would also work.
Fresh garlic cloves
Seasonings: You will need ground cumin, kosher salt, black pepper and optional red pepper flakes. If preferred, you can also add in a teaspoon of Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
Fresh herbs: We used a combination of fresh basil and fresh parsley, but you can use whatever fresh herbs you have on hand.
Pasta: While you can use any tubular-shaped pasta for this ricotta pasta bake, we highly recommend using ziti. The tubes of ziti is necessary, because it traps in sauce and little nuggets of cheese. If you want even more of the marriage between pasta and sauce, use ziti rigate. Those special bites where the cheese is stuck to the sauce that’s stuck to the pasta – that’s the good stuff!
Cheese: You’ll need ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella.

How to make this recipe?

This quick and baked ziti casserole recipe has 3 folds.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Make the meat sauce: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil, then add the ground beef and cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally while breaking up the large pieces of beef with a wooden spoon. Add onions and cook for 7-8 minutes, until translucent. Add the tomatoes, garlic, red wine vinegar, red pepper, cumin, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and continue to cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until it thickens. Turn off the heat and add the fresh basil.
Cook the pasta: While the meat sauce is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti. Cook 7-8 minutes, or 1-2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Assemble the ziti with meat sauce: Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom of an oven-proof 9×11 inch casserole dish. Add half the ziti noodles, pour half the meat and tomato sauce over the pasta, and then dollop with ½ cup ricotta (I use Ina Garten’s Homemade Ricotta recipe). Spread the remaining ziti evenly over the cheese, then top with the remaining meat and tomato sauce and spread evenly. Dollop the rest of the ricotta cheese and spread evenly over the top. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella.
Bake: Transfer the baking dish to the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Sprinkle with fresh parsley, and dinner is ready!

Variations

Although baked ziti is such a classic recipe, there are a number of variations to make it your own. A few of my favorites include:

Baked Ziti with Sausage Recipe: Replace the ground beef with 1 lb sweet or spicy Italian ground sausage that has been removed from the casings.
Baked Ziti with Chicken: Replace the ground beef with 1 lb ground chicken or 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been cut into ½ inch pieces.
Baked Ziti with Spinach: Add 2 cups fresh spinach to the meat and tomato sauce when you add the basil.
Meatless Baked Ziti: Omit the meat completely or make a vegetarian Eggplant Pasta Bake.

Make Ahead, Freezing & Reheating Instructions:

Make Ahead: Wondering if you can assemble this recipe a day in advance and keep it in the fridge? Yes, you can. However, be sure to let it cool and cover it tightly with stretch film before placing it in the fridge. Alternatively, you can make the meat sauce a day in advance, quickly cook the pasta and assemble on the day you are ready to serve.
Storing Leftovers: If you have leftovers from this pasta bake with ground beef, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Freezing: Once you assemble the dish, simply bring the baked ziti with cheese to room temperature and tightly cover the entire casserole dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Keep it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Additionally, in the past, I have frozen the already-baked ziti leftovers as described above. While I prefer the first method, this version works well, too.
Thawing: Let it thaw overnight in the fridge a day before you are ready to serve and bake as directed in the recipe. It might take just a few minutes longer, but you are good to go once the cheese is golden brown.
Reheating: You can reheat your cooked, baked ziti in a preheated 300-degree F. oven for 10-15 minutes or until it is warmed through.

FAQs

What To Serve It With?

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All this classic baked ziti with meat recipe needs is a simple green salad such as my 15-minute Spring Mix Salad. However, there are many other options. Some of my favorites are as follows:

Bread: The combination of pasta and bread is a classic for a reason. They are delicious together. I usually serve it with my Air Fried Garlic Bread or a loaf of Crusty Artisan Bread on the side.
Vegetables: Some seasonal vegetable dishes like Butter Garlic Green Beans, Sauteed Eggplant, or Steamed Asparagus would be wonderful to serve with this pasta bake.