Description
Rich, saucy, and blanketed in gooey melted cheese, this Cheesy Baked Ziti is comfort food at its finest. Perfectly cooked rigatoni (or ziti!) is tossed with a hearty meat sauce, layered with creamy ricotta, and topped generously with mozzarella. It’s everything you love about lasagna, but in a simplified, casserole-style format that makes weeknight dinners a breeze. Ideal for quick dinners, potlucks, or cozy family gatherings, it’s one of those easy dinner ideas you’ll come back to over and over.
Ingredients
12 oz ziti or rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground beef
1 yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
28 oz crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp Italian seasoning
0.25 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
1.5 cups ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
0.5 tsp salt
0.25 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
1. Cook pasta in salted water until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 4–5 minutes.
3. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using). Simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
6. Layer half of the cooked pasta, then half the meat sauce, followed by ¾ cup ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, and ¼ cup Parmesan.
7. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, sauce, ¾ cup ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, and ¼ cup Parmesan.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
9. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
For extra creaminess, add a layer of béchamel sauce between the pasta and meat layers.
Use freshly grated cheese for best melt and flavor—pre-shredded tends to be drier.
Let the baked ziti rest for 5–10 minutes before slicing to help it hold together.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (based on 8 servings)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: cheesy baked ziti, easy dinner, pasta bake, family casserole, comfort food