Baked Ziti Recipe: How to Make Baked Ziti Pasta with Ricotta and Ground Beef

ricotta cheese

🥗Healthier: cottage cheese

💰Cheaper: cream cheese

Cottage cheese is lower in fat and provides a similar texture.

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella reduces calories while provolone can be more affordable.

Parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated Pecorino Romano

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free and adds a cheesy flavor.

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Add chopped onions and cook for 4 minutes until fragrant.

Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Add ground beef, breaking up larger chunks with a spatula, and cook until browned and no longer pink.

Add tomato paste and marinara sauce to the meat, stirring to combine.

Season with black pepper, smoked paprika, and salt; stir to combine.

Add beef stock or water and stir until well incorporated.

Turn heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer the meat sauce for 10 to 15 minutes until thickened.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil, adding 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Add ziti pasta and cook according to package instructions for 7 to 8 minutes.

Season the sauce with red chili flakes and chopped basil before removing from heat.

Drain the pasta and set aside.

In a baking dish, spread two heaping spoons of meat sauce on the bottom.

Preheat the oven to 370°F (188°C).

Stir 1 cup of ricotta cheese into the remaining meat sauce and mix to incorporate.

Add the drained pasta to the meat sauce and mix until well combined.

Layer the pasta and meat mixture in the baking dish, sprinkling half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese and half a cup of mozzarella cheese on top.

Add another layer of the pasta and meat sauce, then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Let stand for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped basil or parsley before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens