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A close-up of bubbling, cheesy Baked Ziti with Ground Beef, topped with melted mozzarella and fresh parsley.

Baked Ziti with Ground Beef

This recipe for Baked Ziti with Ground Beef is a comforting and hearty meal perfect for busy families. It's a classic Italian-inspired dish that can be adapted for gluten-free needs.
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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
Cuisine: Italian
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
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
For Serving
  • as needed Freshly chopped parsley

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Casserole dish

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 freezer-friendly. You can assemble it ahead of time and freeze it before baking. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed, or bake from frozen by adding extra baking time.

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