Description
Zesty Ziti Delight delivers Italian-inspired comfort straight to your dinner table. Rich pasta layers mingle with tangy marinara and melted cheeses, promising a hearty meal that satisfies deep cravings and warms hungry souls.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 1 lb (454 grams) ziti pasta or penne
- 1 lb (454 grams) ground beef or Italian sausage (or a mix of both)
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 1 (24 fl oz/710 milliliters) jar marinara sauce (or homemade)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- 1 tablespoon salt (for boiling water)
Cheese and Dairy:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup (100 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Fill a generously sized pot with water, season with salt, and bring to a rolling boil.
- Add ziti and cook until tender yet firm, following package guidance.
- Carefully drain pasta and reserve for later assembly.
- Warm olive oil in a substantial skillet over medium temperature.
- Gently sauté diced onions until translucent and softened.
- Introduce minced garlic and cook briefly until aromatic.
- Incorporate ground meat, breaking into small crumbles while browning thoroughly.
- Eliminate any excess fatty liquid from the meat.
- Pour marinara sauce into the skillet, blending with Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Allow sauce to simmer and meld flavors for several minutes, then remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, sour cream, whisked egg, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and grated Parmesan.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Coat a rectangular baking dish with a thin layer of meat sauce.
- Create initial pasta layer, spreading half the cooked ziti evenly.
- Distribute half the ricotta mixture across the pasta.
- Ladle half the remaining meat sauce over the layer.
- Repeat layering process with remaining ingredients.
- Generously sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over the top.
- Shield with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and continue baking until cheese turns golden and bubbling.
- Allow dish to rest and slightly cool for several minutes.
- Garnish with fresh herbs before serving.
Notes
- Test pasta doneness by tasting a piece before draining to ensure perfect al dente texture without being too soft or hard.
- Drain pasta immediately and toss with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking, creating smoother layering in the baked dish.
- Blot ground meat with paper towels to remove excess fat, ensuring a cleaner, less greasy sauce and preventing oil separation.
- Customize the dish by swapping ground beef with turkey or plant-based crumbles for a lighter, more diet-friendly version that maintains rich flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 80 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg