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A serving spoon lifting a portion of cheesy Baked Ziti with Ground Beef from a casserole dish.

Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

This recipe for Baked Ziti with Ground Beef is a comforting and budget-friendly meal perfect for busy families. It's easy to prepare and sure to please both adults and kids, making it an ideal choice for weeknight dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Standing Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Dinner, Pasta
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Meat Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 whole large onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lb. Italian sausage
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes with juice
  • 2 (14.5-oz.) cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
  • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • to taste Kosher salt
  • to taste Ground black pepper
For the Pasta and Cheese Mixture
  • 16 oz. ziti or mostaccioli cooked until not quite al dente
  • 15 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 lb. mozzarella cheese grated and divided
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 egg
For Serving
  • as needed Freshly chopped parsley

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Casserole dish
  • Bowl

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and sauté for several minutes, or until starting to soften. Add the Italian sausage and ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off the fat, leaving a bit behind for flavor and moisture.
  2. Add the tomatoes with juice, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove 3 to 4 cups of the sauce to a bowl to cool down.
  3. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 2 cups of grated mozzarella, parmesan, egg, salt, and pepper. Stir together just a couple of times; do not mix completely.
  5. Drain the pasta and rinse under cool water to stop the cooking and cool it down. Pour the cooked pasta into the bowl with the cheese mixture and toss to slightly combine. Add the cooled meat sauce and toss to combine.
  6. Add half of the coated pasta to a large casserole dish. Spoon half of the remaining sauce over the top, then top with half of the remaining mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of the coated pasta, sauce, and mozzarella. Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the pasta before serving.

Notes

This Baked Ziti with Ground Beef recipe is a comforting classic that brings families together. It's perfect for making ahead and reheating, or even freezing for a future meal.

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