Description
Classic Italian-American baked ziti promises hearty comfort with layers of pasta, rich marinara, and melted cheeses. Home cooks appreciate this simple, satisfying casserole that delivers warmth and flavor in each delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground beef
- 1 lb (454 g) Italian sausage
- 1 lb (454 g) ziti or mostaccioli
- 1 ½ lbs (680 g) mozzarella, grated
- 15 oz (425 g) whole-milk ricotta
- ½ cup (50 g) grated parmesan
- 2 28-oz (794 g) cans whole tomatoes with juice
- 2 14.5-oz (822 g) cans tomato sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 eggs
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
- 2 tsps (10 ml) Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp (2.5 ml) red pepper flakes
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Meat Preparation: Heat olive oil in a large pot, sauté garlic and onions until translucent. Add ground beef and Italian sausage, browning meat completely and draining excess fat.
- Sauce Development: Incorporate tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Simmer sauce for 25-30 minutes to intensify flavors, then set aside portion to cool.
- Pasta Cooking: Boil salted water and cook ziti until just before al dente, maintaining slight firmness. Drain and rinse with cold water to halt cooking process.
- Cheese Mixture: Blend mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, parsley, eggs, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Fold cooked pasta into cheese mixture, ensuring even distribution.
- Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 375°F. Layer pasta-cheese blend in baking dish, alternating with reserved sauce and mozzarella cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until cheese melts and edges turn golden brown.
- Serving: Allow ziti to rest for 5 minutes, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
- Meat Selection Matters: Choose high-quality ground beef and Italian sausage with balanced fat content for maximum flavor depth and juiciness.
- Sauce Simmering Secrets: Allow sauce to develop rich flavors by slow-cooking, which concentrates tomato sweetness and melds seasonings perfectly.
- Pasta Perfection Technique: Cook ziti slightly under al dente, as it continues cooking during baking, preventing mushy texture and maintaining ideal pasta consistency.
- Cheese Blend Balance: Mix cheeses thoroughly and evenly distribute throughout pasta to ensure each bite contains creamy, melted goodness without clumping.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg